The World has not changed a bit!

I am so furious...women should be furious.  Just when we think we are starting to make some headway in the communications business, one of our own gets slammed.  Punished for wanting to have a family and a career too, women seem to be viewed as not being able to succeed at both...especially in a place of power.

"Less than six months after naming Elizabeth Vargas and Bob Woodruff over Charles Gibson as the successors to the late Peter Jennings on "World News Tonight" on ABC, the network announced yesterday that it was scrapping its dual-host experiment and installing Mr. Gibson as the sole anchor."

I have followed Ms. Vargas' career (not only because both of us have the same last name) and she was one of my inspirations to start a career in communications.

"Ms. Vargas said in an interview yesterday that she felt "an enormous amount of sadness" that a job to which she had aspired for sometime had slipped from her grasp."

And this is because she wanted to have a second child.  Jennings was sick and a host of other anchors stepped into temporarily host the cast...not take over.  Now what would be a short maternity leave, Vargas' aspirations are shot and she is shunned for being a woman.  I am insulted.  Too often this happens in the workplace and to see it publicized to a prominent professional woman is case in point.

Why aren't women taking more of a stand?  I am aware of the Fortune's Most Powerful Women in Business, but what about others?  Like me?  Like other women I admire as voices in blogs?  Why are there not as many female voices in the blog comments or hosting their own blogs?  Deep down do we feel we do not have a voice or are we just sick and tired of the hassle?

This is infuriating and I am disappointed with ABC.

Note from Vargas last night...

May 23, 2006 — Elizabeth Vargas closed tonight's "World News Tonight" broadcast with a note on the changes at the anchor desk. The following is a copy of what she said:

"Before we leave tonight, a note about change. There's been a lot of it on this broadcast. From Peter Jennings' announcement that he had lung cancer, to his death, to the decision to name Bob Woodruff and me as the new anchors.

Bob's injury in Iraq forced us — yet again — to change the way we planned to cover the news and now, another new chapter will begin. As of Monday, Charles Gibson will be taking the helm of this broadcast as I focus on anchoring "20/20" and the arrival of my new child.

It's been an honor and a privilege bringing you the news every night. And the only thing that makes this transition any easier is knowing that you will be in very capable hands.

I'll see you again tomorrow. For all of us at ABC News, goodnight"

Thank you, Elizabeth.