Muna Khan: Sisters are doing it for themselves. Or why I’m not holding my breath on Christine Lagarde

Did you know that the new chief of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, was once a synchronized swimmer?

Now what does that have to do with her becoming the first female head of the IMF? Nothing. I thought it was an interesting factoid given that the news about her becoming managing director of IMF has largely focused on her being the first woman to head the IMF.

You were probably expecting a feminazi like myself to be jumping from the rooftop because a woman has been made the head of the IMF.

Let me let you in on a secret: feminists don’t root for women just for the sake of it.

In fact, I really don’t know any feminists who would join the IMF, let alone head it, because the IMF is a big bad organization that doesn’t really give a hoot about the average Joe—or Zoe.

I’m looking at the IMF elections like the Oscars, a political shindig of some sort that gives out awards for the feel good factor rather than real merit. Two words: Sandra Bullock.

Now, I don’t mean to poop on Ms. Lagarde’s parade. The woman is more than qualified to be head of IMF and continue the proud tradition of crippling countries’ economies.

I just can’t help but wonder if she’d have gotten this job, in such a shoe-in manner, had her predecessor Dominique Strauss-Kahn not screwed up as badly as he had when he allegedly assaulted a hotel housekeeper in New York in May. Mr. Strauss-Kahn resigned from his position and is facing trial.

Ms. Lagarde was always a contender for his position but isn’t it just a bit convenient that she got it at a time when the IMF is under the spotlight for ignoring Mr. Strauss-Kahn’s erring sexual harassment ways?

I know, I’m being nasty to Ms. Lagarde when it’s not her fault. After all, a few years ago she said “If Lehman Brothers had been Lehman Sisters, today’s economic crisis would look quite different.”

Here’s hoping she’ll remember her own words and lead the IMF in a direction that shows more transparency, where decisions are made in a judicious manner and not out of greed or ego.

Otherwise, the only people left celebrating Ms. Lagarde’s success will be hotel housekeepers in New York.

(Muna Khan, Senior Correspondent of Al Arabiya English, can be reached at [email protected])