Will a Difference Be Seen With Women Presidents or Prime Ministers?

Another woman has won the presidential election in her country. On October 28, 2007 Cristina Fernández de Kirchner of Argentina won a decisive victory over her opponents -- one of whom was a woman.

It is still not business as usual. A woman president is still the 'dancing dog' phenomenon, still an anomaly worthy of press articles, extended comparisons to others in her region (see Bachelet-Chile) or her similar circumstances (note Hillary Rodham Clinton, wife of President, Senator and now running herself), and a trend (Angela Merkel!-Germany, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf!-Liberia). The numbers are yet so few that the gathering of women heads of state and government can be assembled in a phone booth size room.

Yet, there is a glimmer of pattern or at least possibility. In both parliamentary and presidential systems women are winning highest offices. This is a step forward. Prime Ministers can be elected by their parliamentarian peers or appointed by a president. Presidents at least in North, Central and South American hemisphere have to win through direct election (or close enough through the Electoral College). And this is not easy. It is a tougher election road and harder to gain a foothold.

(Note: Canada is a Commonwealth country and still has the Queen in the background).

We are not talking equality nirvana but traces of lighting on the path. More country governments are giving women allocation of seats, or the parties are. More women are being named ministers of cabinet as governments in some countries move to 50 percent women and 50 percent men in cabinet. (Think Spain). Others are moving if not to parity, to larger presence. This is a pipeline effect. Many a male minister has seen the oval office in their country (or whatever shape it is) and coveted it as within their reach. Women have ambition, too, and there is a growing cadre of women with government experience running large departments with arguably big budgets. Women are exercising power.

Women are gaining more economic clout and often with that come independent thinking and action. The market women of Liberia were a major force that helped Ellen Johnson Sirleaf become the African continent's first woman president.

Is it quick enough? A sort of glass half empty/half full question. Yes, progress is happening, but we still need to 'hurry history' because the rate of progress as measured by previous changes still suggests that anything close to parity, if we wait for natural forces, is a 50- to 80-year dream. Affirmative mechanisms help. Norway is now requiring 40 percent of board's of directors be women. If nothing else these are directional sign posts -- "go this way" is what is being said to companies and in government.

Will a difference be seen with women presidents or prime ministers? Ho Chi Minh was once asked if the French Revolution of 200 years ago made a difference. He said it was 'too soon to tell.' It is probably too soon. We really need to see critical mass -- if the cameras panned over the UN General Assembly and 70 of the 190 plus leaders were women, we might see different language, priorities, funding efforts.

The Council of Women World Leaders will co-convene an International Women Leaders Global Security Summit in mid-November 2007 along with the Annenberg Trust, Women Leaders Intercultural Forum and the White House Project. World leaders, including sitting leaders such as Tarja Halonen, President of Finland and Jenny Shipley, Prime Minister of New Zealand (1997-99 will attend. Mary Robinson, chair of the Council and President of Ireland (1990-1997 and Kim Campbell, chair emerita of the Council, and Prime Minister of Canada (1993) are co-chairs. 75 women leaders at the highest levels are going to discuss global security and what further advances can be made when women's voices are heard and women are at the table. We firmly believe that women walk in the world and experience it differently than men.

I co-founded the White House Project 10 years ago, and when we started we wanted to reinforce the idea that a woman can be president in the United States. Having more role models sure helps.

Comments

[allwarisbad]

I think you missed names like Golda Meir, Indira Gandhi, Margaret Thather, Benazir Bhutta, Bandarnaike etc.
Hence women heads of state are not really a new phenomenon at all.
It lloks like the USA maybe one of the last countries where this may happen ...
But, Hillary would be a very bad example if it happens. It will prove the Stepford wife is the american way ...

[messy]

It's interesting that the person promoting this on Television is Kim Campbell, the former prime minister of Canada, who single handedly destroyed her political party by reducing it's numbers from a majority to two.

The first female prime minister of Turkey was reputed to be a crook, the first prime minister of France, the first female prime minister of Pakistan was thrown out TWICE for corruption and incompetence, once by her own lapdog president.

The first female prime minister of India tried to become a dictator, the first female prime minister of Israel nearly destroyed her country by ignoring vital signs of Arab conspiricy.

Two female prime ministers of Bangladesh practically started a civil war against each other.

I could go on and on...

[Diana]

Yes, it would be terrific if more women were elected to positions of power. But which women? Should Americans vote for Hillary simply because she's a woman? Absolutely not! Serious issues demand smart and honest candidates, not panderers.

At this grave moment in our history, I would suggest gender is just another red herring. Let's vote issues!

[NABNYC]

We need women to be fully integrated into society. When you have a basically elitest, sexist and racist government which excludes anyone who is not a multi-millionaire, excludes most people who are not white, and excludes most women, then appointing a woman to some high profile position has little value. Look at Condi Rice. Even though she is a slavish supporter of the Bush-Neocon regime, even she was disregarded by the real power players - the white males.

I'm more interested in getting 50% women in the Senate and House and in the courts. Then we can take turns on the presidency and cabinet positions. 50% women on the school boards and the city counsel, and the planning commissions. That is where the true opportunity begins to have women become equal in society.

Just look at Hillary Clinton. While so-called feminists weep with joy at the sight of a "serious" woman candidate for President, the more discerning viewer can see that Hillary is playing the Portia role. She dresses like a man, she talks like a man, she believes like a man, she acts like a man. No emotion. Cold as ice. Pro-war, no concern for the poor, the weak, the sick, the helpless. "We need discipline" should be her mantra.

If she gets elected, I anticipate she will be much more ruthless and brutal than any man would be in continuing to take away the few items of comfort that are still affordable to working Americans. She has already demonstrated a complete lack of ethics in hiding law firm billing records, claiming innocence when she gave her stockbroker $1,000 and he gave her back $100,000.

And having Rupert Murdoch throw her a fundraiser? Who would even attend such a thing, never mind allow her name to be used? Oh I know. Maybe a presidential candidate who has promised Murdoch that she will personally work to eliminate any restrictions on media ownership? There's an idea.

Hillary had her picture taken with Newt Gingrich. I think they make a fine couple.