What do you think?
Rate this book
Women, Equality, Power Selected speeches from a life of leadership
A celebration of an outstanding leader who continues to strive and work for change, and it's a rallying call for other women leaders, whether they are in positions of political, economic or social power.
Helen Clark has been a political leader for more than 40 years, since first running in local elections in the 1970s. She entered parliament as a 31-year-old in 1981, led the Labour Party to victory in 1999 and was Prime Minister of New Zealand for nine years. She then took on a critical international role as Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme in New York.
One of her key focuses throughout this time has been the empowerment of women and she has paved the way for other women to step up and lead.
With a foreword by the Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand, this is a timely and important book.
'If more issues of importance to women are to rise to the top of political, legislative and budget priorities, more women must sit at the top tables ... Women must be drivers of development, not just passive beneficiaries of plans designed by others.' Helen Clark ONZ
'Helen Clark often said, and continues to say, that having women in leadership positions not only sends a powerful message to other women but also changes societies' perceptions of gender roles and encourages girls to believe that no door is closed to them.' Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand
'Helen Clark has reshaped our views on women and politics and the right of women to take up the mantle of political leadership.' Professor Jennifer Curtin, University of Auckland
Helen Clark has been a political leader for more than 40 years, since first running in local elections in the 1970s. She entered parliament as a 31-year-old in 1981, led the Labour Party to victory in 1999 and was Prime Minister of New Zealand for nine years. She then took on a critical international role as Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme in New York.
One of her key focuses throughout this time has been the empowerment of women and she has paved the way for other women to step up and lead.
With a foreword by the Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand, this is a timely and important book.
'If more issues of importance to women are to rise to the top of political, legislative and budget priorities, more women must sit at the top tables ... Women must be drivers of development, not just passive beneficiaries of plans designed by others.' Helen Clark ONZ
'Helen Clark often said, and continues to say, that having women in leadership positions not only sends a powerful message to other women but also changes societies' perceptions of gender roles and encourages girls to believe that no door is closed to them.' Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand
'Helen Clark has reshaped our views on women and politics and the right of women to take up the mantle of political leadership.' Professor Jennifer Curtin, University of Auckland
- GenresNonfictionFeminism
432 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 29, 2018
16 people are currently reading
207 people want to read
About the author
Helen Clark
9 books1 followerHelen Elizabeth Clark ONZ SSI PC is a New Zealand politician who served as the 37th prime minister of New Zealand from 1999 to 2008 and was the administrator of the United Nations Development Programme from 2009 to 2017. She was New Zealand's fifth-longest-serving prime minister, and the second woman to hold that office.
Abridged from Wikipedia
Abridged from Wikipedia
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 4, 2019
'Despite much progress in many places, many glass ceilings remain, and women in leadership positions globally are still a rare commodity. Those glass ceilings have to be tackled head on - and there are many proven ways of breaking through them. Addressing the basic structural issues is a precondition - women can't even get near the glass ceilings if they are denied equality and protection under the law and are unable to determine their own destiny.'
The quote I have included is taken from the final speech in this book, 'Breaking the Glass Ceilings: Reflections on the future of women's leadership'. It's the only speech I will be copying quotes from in this review.
This was quite a fascinating book. The first speech included, 'Maiden Speech to Parliament', was given on the 27th of April 1982 while the concluding one I mentioned above was given on the 16th of March 2018. It was so interesting to track the evolution of issues prevalent in New Zealand and beyond, through Helen Clark's speeches. From 'Comments on Nuclear Testing in the South Pacific', to, 'The Homosexual Law Reform Bill' (this one really reminds you how much progress has been made since 1985) to, 'Remembering Princess Diana', this covers a lot of ground. The three speeches from this paragraph were all given before she was elected Prime Minister!
It was also a nice process for me to go from topics that I had only heard about as people recalled the past, to things I heard on the radio as a kid but didn't really take much notice of, to the time when I actually remembered the speeches being given. It was a fun way to brush up on a little of the more recent history of my country. I found it to be a very valuable reading experience and I'm glad I took the time to read something that I'd worried would bore me or feel like a chore.
I will end this fairly brief review with another quote that I liked --well, it annoyed me of course, but it is one I've been returning to in my mind constantly since I finished reading this book:
'Getting into leadership positions normally involves a progression up the ranks - but women may find it difficult to get on the first rung of the ladder, and when they do, they may find that some rungs are missing for them.
The World Bank's Women, Business and the Law Report in 2016 found that around 155 countries have at least one law which discriminates against women, 100 countries put restrictions on what work women can do, and women in eighteen countries cannot get a job without their husband's permission.'
The quote I have included is taken from the final speech in this book, 'Breaking the Glass Ceilings: Reflections on the future of women's leadership'. It's the only speech I will be copying quotes from in this review.
This was quite a fascinating book. The first speech included, 'Maiden Speech to Parliament', was given on the 27th of April 1982 while the concluding one I mentioned above was given on the 16th of March 2018. It was so interesting to track the evolution of issues prevalent in New Zealand and beyond, through Helen Clark's speeches. From 'Comments on Nuclear Testing in the South Pacific', to, 'The Homosexual Law Reform Bill' (this one really reminds you how much progress has been made since 1985) to, 'Remembering Princess Diana', this covers a lot of ground. The three speeches from this paragraph were all given before she was elected Prime Minister!
It was also a nice process for me to go from topics that I had only heard about as people recalled the past, to things I heard on the radio as a kid but didn't really take much notice of, to the time when I actually remembered the speeches being given. It was a fun way to brush up on a little of the more recent history of my country. I found it to be a very valuable reading experience and I'm glad I took the time to read something that I'd worried would bore me or feel like a chore.
I will end this fairly brief review with another quote that I liked --well, it annoyed me of course, but it is one I've been returning to in my mind constantly since I finished reading this book:
'Getting into leadership positions normally involves a progression up the ranks - but women may find it difficult to get on the first rung of the ladder, and when they do, they may find that some rungs are missing for them.
The World Bank's Women, Business and the Law Report in 2016 found that around 155 countries have at least one law which discriminates against women, 100 countries put restrictions on what work women can do, and women in eighteen countries cannot get a job without their husband's permission.'
September 3, 2018
New Zealander's either love her or hate her, shes a very controversial figure here in New Zealand. Political differences aside Helen Clark is a woman to be admired, if only for her work at the UN as administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). She was the first woman to lead the organization and served two terms in the role.
Helen continues to be a strong voice for sustainable development, climate action, gender equality and women’s leadership, peace and justice, and action on non-communicable diseases and on HIV. Love her or hate her Helen is a woman who lives by her convictions and works hard to make a difference. Interesting look at one of New Zealand's most revered and reviled political figures.
Helen continues to be a strong voice for sustainable development, climate action, gender equality and women’s leadership, peace and justice, and action on non-communicable diseases and on HIV. Love her or hate her Helen is a woman who lives by her convictions and works hard to make a difference. Interesting look at one of New Zealand's most revered and reviled political figures.
January 11, 2019
What a phenomenal woman.
June 21, 2019
A fantastic and inspiring read - you can clearly see from her maiden speech in Parliament to her more recent speeches the things that mattered to Helen and the change she wanted to bring about as a leader. In these dark politic times it was nice to read words from a leader in progressive politics that does not appear ideological but pragmatic - clearly outlining how addressing social issues has a clear positive impact on economic and international issues.
I'd like to see an index and a personal summary from Helen added to the next edition.
I'd like to see an index and a personal summary from Helen added to the next edition.
December 18, 2024
The last third of the speeches were very repetitive which made it hard to get through, otherwise was very interesting. I especially liked the earlier speeches from Helen’s time in parliament
February 13, 2019
Not really my kind of read & mostly read the description of what her speeches was about & managed to read probably 3 or 4 speeches from beginning to end, so didn't read entire book.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews