So it was college, and those role-shaping expectations that were most important. Here, these days, I DO have role model. That's my goal, too. Over the years salaries have gone up, and so have our numbers of women and the amount of responsibility and audibility they have. Although many of my colleagues might disagree, I do think our gender affects our reporting.
Women tend to listen more carefully than men.
We put a premium on building relationships, which can make our sources more comfortable. I've never felt that any job at NPR is off-limits to women. I look around and see that some of the most respected correspondents at NPR and in the journalism field are women, i.e. Nina Totenberg, Elizabeth Arnold, Susan Stamberg, Mara Liasson, and Anne Garrels to name just a few. These are women who have made NPR's reputation. So it makes me feel that the paths are wide open for me and others to follow in their footsteps.