It makes perfect sense that this has not been a problem up until now considering only 2.4% of woman make up Fortune 500 CEO's (source), but now that one has attained the CEO position of IBM, a Masters Corporate sponsor, there is great debate over whether this tradition is to be "broken". In an article on the issue from Abc News Martha Burk, former chair of the Nation Council of Women's Organizations, said in response to the debate that IBM has to "draw a line in the sand" saying, "We're either going to pull our sponsorship and membership and any ancillary activities we support with the tournament, or the club is going to have to honor our CEO the way they have in the past". Unfortunately there hasn't been any information on where the debate is headed in terms of where Augusta stands, but clearly this can be seen as discrimination against women. Burk has a point when she notes that Rometty deserves to be treated as every other CEO has been treated in the past.
Bob Dylan, one of the most influential musicians of all time, said it correctly when he stated in one his songs, "As the present now/ Will later be past... For the times they are a-changin". Although historically the Augusta Golf Club is all male, due to the change in times and gender equality there is no escaping the inevitable alteration of this rule.
Should Augusta Golf Club bestow membership upon Ginni Rometty even though she is a woman?
To what extent should traditions be protected?
Very interesting post, Doug. I understand the point and importance of tradition to such time-honored things like the Master Tournament. Despite that view, it is merely a nostalgia driven one, antiquated in every sense of the word. It's 2012 for goodness sake; there is no reason that a woman can't be bestowed membership.
ReplyDeleteThe Green Jacket is a perfect example of a tradition kept alive over the years, and that's fine. But to continue an elitist system isn't really tradition so much as obsolete practice. The times have been a-changin' for years and years, and they will continue to change. The Masters should too as it becomes ever more apparent that women aren't lesser than men.
I have to say that when Paddy made a joke about women not being allowed to hold membership at Augusta Golf Club, I thought he was making it up. And then I read this post and found out that was true. It seems pretty ridiculous that one of the most famous golf clubs in the country (world too?) doesn't allow women to be members when women can and have run for president. Now, I hate change too, but this is beyond ridiculous. It's not like they are trying to get a women's fit green jacket. The golf and Masters are the same.
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