In leadership roles far from me and near to me, some men are failing us morally and ethically. I am not talking specifically about our political situation but there are some leaders there who have used reprehensible judgement or a complete lack of judgement when it comes to exploiting women and children. The number of men in public roles who have been accused, prosecuted or who have paid off their accusers is sickening. The fact they are leading this country is mind numbing.

Closer to home, there has been a recent wave of cases involving men in educational roles who have been arrested and prosecuted for the sexual exploitation of minors. And then there is the history of sexual abuse within the community of Catholic priests. That is a horror show.

Women in leadership roles do not do this. They do not use their power to exploit. Effective female leaders empower others.

Sadly, we are in a space where there is a plethora of online tools that make sexual exploitation easy for predators. These free apps allow anonymous video chats where predators go to groom minors. These users engage in porn but these video chats can also lead to in-person sexual assault. Women do not do this! I’ll say it louder for those in the back: WOMEN DO NOT DO THIS.

Women are not infallible and yes there are women who have and will continue to engage in the exploitation of women, children and other vulnerable people. These women are not leaders. They are opportunists.  Ghislaine Maxell comes to mind. Remind me, who are some of her friends? She is not a leader.

We need more women to rise to leadership roles. We need women to be priests. We need more school leaders to be women. We need more women on the Supreme Court. We need a woman to be President. If that happens children, other women and vulnerable populations will be safer. At the moment, we are headed in the exact opposite direction and we are being transported there quickly.

Ladies, raise your hand. Step up. Speak up. We need you leading. We need you protecting. We need your intelligence, compassion and empathy. We need your courage. We need your morality. Let’s lead.