Women Leadership: Voters Launch A Power Surge Of Women

The Christian Science Monitor:

Over the past decade, almost every region of the world has seen exponentially more political seats -- legislative and executive -- go to women. Iceland's 42.9 percent female representation in the legislature, for instance, now sits in the rankings behind South Africa's 44.5 percent, Cuba's 43.2 percent, and Rwanda's 56.3 percent, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

Eighteen countries also have women as heads of state. Earlier this year, Julia Gillard took over as prime minister in Australia, Iveta Radicova became the first female prime minister of Slovakia, and Roza Otunbayeva took power in Kyrgyzstan after street protests toppled President Kurmanbek Bakiyev.

Read the whole story: The Christian Science Monitor

Comments

[GSR]

05:39 PM on 11/14/2010

It should be noted that as the head of government, Prime Minister Julia Gillard is not Australia's head of state. That title belongs to the Governor General. Conveniently that office is also held by a woman, Quentin Bryce.