Madeleine Albright on Diplomacy, Women's Issues, and Breaking Barriers

Madeleine Albright, the first woman U.S. Secretary of State, offers insights into her experiences in politics and diplomacy, emphasizing the critical role of women's issues in foreign policy. She challenges the notion of women's issues as "soft," arguing they are often the most challenging, directly impacting life and death.

Breaking the Glass Ceiling

Albright recounts her time as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations following the Gulf War. Instructed to speak firmly against Saddam Hussein, she found herself the subject of a poem in Baghdad, where she was compared to an "unparalleled serpent." In response, she wore a snake pin to meetings about Iraq. This playful act evolved into a tradition where she used pins to reflect her intended message for the day.

The Pin Collection

Started as a response to Saddam Hussein's comparison.
Grew into a collection that reflected her intended message.
The collection has been showcased at the Smithsonian and in a book titled "Read My Pins."

Being the First Woman Secretary of State

Albright addresses the scrutiny she faced as the first woman Secretary of State, particularly regarding her appearance. She notes the double standard where men are not subjected to the same level of observation about their clothing. Prior to her role as UN Ambassador, Jean Kirkpatrick advised her to adopt a more diplomatic style.

Balancing Roles

Acknowledges the irritation of constant commentary on her appearance.
Highlights the importance of women defining their roles in ways that make a difference.
Recalls being asked about balancing her role as Secretary of State with being a mother and grandmother.

She emphasizes that she had been a woman for 60 years but only Secretary of State for a few minutes when asked about being the first woman in the role. She loves being a woman and found an advantage in it.

The UN Experience

Describes her first UN meeting as a pivotal moment.
Realized she had to speak on behalf of the United States.
Recognized the advantage of being a woman in building personal relationships.

Women's Issues as Central to Foreign Policy

Albright advocates for integrating women's issues into American foreign policy, not just from a feminist perspective, but because societies benefit when women are politically and economically empowered. She argues that women's issues are not "soft" but are the hardest issues, dealing directly with life and death.

The Global Narrative

Notes the slow but evident change in the global narrative around women and girls.
Highlights the need to support women who lack opportunities.
Believes societies are better off when women are politically and economically empowered.

Addressing Challenges

Recalls wars where women were the main victims.
Established a war crimes tribunal to address these issues.
Formed a caucus called "G7" (Girls 7) at the UN to lobby for women's issues.
Successfully advocated for rape to be declared a weapon of war.

Women at the Negotiating Table

Albright believes that having more women at negotiating tables changes the tone and goals of conversations. She emphasizes the importance of empathy and understanding in conflict resolution.

The Impact of Women

Highlights the importance of women putting themselves in others' shoes.
Notes the support among women in foreign policy positions.
Advocates for training women for political office and supporting women-owned businesses.

Supporting Each Other

Stresses the importance of women supporting each other.
Criticizes women who criticize other women for their choices.
Believes there's a special place in hell for women who don't help each other.

Albright's experiences and insights underscore the importance of women's involvement in diplomacy and the necessity of addressing women's issues as central to foreign policy. Her advocacy for women's empowerment and mutual support serves as a call to action for creating a more equitable and peaceful world.