Over recent election years, Americans have created a pattern of imagining themselves experiencing the first Presidential term where a woman holds office. With the election and re-election of our first African-American President, this mindset was only enhanced even more. To many, a woman holding government office in the United States would not only show how far our country has come in achieving democracy, but as a world power we would stand as a symbol for the rest of the globe right?
Not necessarily...
Statistics actually show that more women leaders reside in countries that are considered to be "developing nations" as opposed to already developed. Maybe this is because the country still distributes power through a royal bloodline, or there were so many human rights violations by the government a woman-just like any man-felt it was her duty to bring respect for rights back to the state. Maybe the reason she ran had nothing to do with the oppression of women, but the unfair distribution of wealth in the economic system.
To be realistic, developing nations are very vulnerable when it comes to economic, social, and national security issues because they are still in the process of transition. This being said, there are a number of reasons why a women would be motivated to run for office. For example, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, has made astounding accomplishments in rebuilding Liberia after years of brutal civil war. She has made achievements toward economic growth and social justice that opened the door for her to be able to tackle certain gender inequalities. After being elected, she negotiated significant debt relief, quadrupled the national budget, and opened a huge investigation on government corruption and crimes committed during the civil war. Certain efforts that Sirleaf made such as quadrupling the national budget, led to a 40% increase of female children attending schools in Liberia. The result of her actions led to more equality in social conditions for women.
So is a government necessarily proving they are more democratic by electing a female President? Although there is no doubt that a diverse group of candidates makes a more democratic election, it can be hard to connect obtaining a woman leader specifically to the status of democracy in the state she represents, without looking at her policies. It is typical to assume that women leaders will be more compassionate about civil and human rights considering that the status of gender politics has left women oppressed in many states in history and still today. It is hard not to relate gender equality to the reason these women run, but by looking at the economic status of their country in comparison to the party they represent, and other sociopolitical factors, one can see what these women fight for beyond gender politics.
Here is a link that has a brief description of each female President/Prime Minister around the world:
http://www.guide2womenleaders.com/Current-Women-Leaders.htm
Here is a link providing statistical facts and figures:
http://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/leadership-and-political-participation/facts-and-figures
President of Liberia story:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/mar/08/ellen-johnson-sirleaf-100-women
2 comments:
Comparing women leaders in developing countries to the relative lack of women leaders in our own was a very interesting point. I agree with what you had to say, and as it comes closer to 2016, I wish more people would as well.
This article is very interesting and raises a lot of important points. Women in leadership is very important. It is important because it gives leadership diversity. There have been many great female leaders that have done great things for their countries. Hillary Clinton has the opportunity to be the next president of the United States, I believe that it would be a good thing for the United States. she is very smart and knows how things run from he long resume of being around politics. It would also show how far the United States have come from 200 years ago where women couldn't even vote and now one could possibly lead the country.
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