Women in Politics

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Where R the Women?

April 10th 2008 22:11

We have well educated women in this country with strong character, moral fiber and proven leadership ability.

Why these women won’t step up to the plate and run for president eludes me; is it the systematic character assassination of the vetting process that scares them away?

There are women of merit in the US that can lead the country, who are worlds above Hillary Clinton and yet they are hesitant to enter into the political arena, is the political climate that hostile to them or are Americans in general that sexist?

Here are some recent examples female world leaders.

Former Prime Ministers

~ Sri Lanka: Sirimavo Bandaranaike (1960-65), (1970-77), (1994-2000)
~ India: Indira Gandhi (1966-77), (1980-84)
~ Israel: Golda Meir (1969-74)
~ Central African Republic: Elisabeth Domitien (1975-1976)
~ United Kingdom: Margaret Thatcher (1979-1990)
~ Dominica: Eugenia Charles (1980-95)
~ Norway: Gro Harlem Brundtland (Feb.-Oct. 1981), (1986-89), (1990-96)
~ Yugoslavia: Milka Planinc (1982-86)
~ Pakistan: Benazir Bhutto (1988-90), (1993-96)
~ Bangladesh: Khaleda Zia (1991-96), (2001-06)
~ Bangladesh: Sheikh Hasina Wajed (1996-2001)
~ Poland: Hanna Suchocka (1992-93)
~ Turkey: Tansu Ciller (1993-96)
~ Senegal: Mame Madior Boye (2001-2002)
~ South Korea: Han Myung Sook (2006-07)

Former Presidents

~ Argentina: Isabel Peron (1974-76)
~ Iceland: Vigdiss Finnbogadottir (1980-96)
~ Malta: Agatha Barbara (1982-87)
~ The Philippines: Corazon Aquino (1986-92)
~ Nicaragua: Violeta Chamorro (1990-97)
~ Ireland: Mary Robinson (1990-97)
~ Sri Lanka: Chandrika Kumaratunga (1994- 2005)
~ Guyana: Janet Jagan (1997-99)
~ Switzerland: Ruth Dreifuss (1999)
~ Latvia: Vaira Vike-Freiberga (1999- 2007)
~ Panama: Mireya Moscoso (1999-2004)
~ Indonesia: Megawati Sukarnoputri (2001-2004)

Can someone explain to me why the US citizenry is so resistant to female leadership at the highest level and vice versa?

I know that they're tough enough, is Ann Coulter available? She has the attitude, looks great and shoots straight.

Raven

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Comments

9 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Damo

April 10th 2008 23:24

Raven

USA has its own issues with why no females have been in the top job yet.
However I think you are over estimating the level of character assassination that goes on in comparison to other places in the world.
Yes, Coulter is a sucky example of humanity but not the only one.

Just taking the first two on your list I can say a few things.
Sri Lanka: Sirimavo Bandaranaike was the first female leader of an elected democracy in the world. However she gained her position in part to a large sympathy vote soon after he husband was assassinated. This does not mean that she was a good leader. Her and her husband more than anyone are responsible for the mess that Sri Lanka is in today. She was the mistress of wedge politics.

India: Indira Gandhi (1966-77), (1980-84)
Also gained popularity because she was the daughter of Nehru however she was the absolute opposite in political terms. Where Neru tried to build and egalitarian Indira built and exclusive society controlled by socialist styled regulation and red tape. She was finally assassinated by her personal guard. Fallout for the Goldern Temple thing.

Sri Lanka: Chandrika Kumaratunga (1994- 2005)
Guess whose daughter she is? Come on guess? Give up? Bandaranaike. She also came to power after her popular actor husband was assassinated outside her home. The gunmen were implicated as being sent by President Premadasa at that time. Though she stopped the ex-officious killings, her reign led to an epidemic of official corruption. Including millions of dollars in cash Tsunami aid handed directly to her on television that somehow she says never happened. She also renamed the International airport Bandaranaike Airport as lovely in your face gesture to the nation.

Maggy Thatcher??? Hmmm. "you will vote for her again because who the hell wants Tony Ben."

The thrill of electing a symbolic person is never justification for ignoring the person's capabilities. I am very much in favour of electing any person regardless of gender but I am a bit wary when a candidates only qualification is their symbolic value.

Comment by Kim L

April 11th 2008 00:30

Diving About

Hi Raven,

I think it is related to our reluctance - at a societal level - to change. Women have only (relatively) recently even been allowed to enter the public debate.
There is an implied competence in the male persona simply because we have viewed males as protectors, decision makers and defenders for so long (as traditional gender roles dictate).
Similarly, women carry the gender role of the nurturer with no implicit evidence of political competence.

Of course women are capable of coherent political thought and decisive policy making, but it is necessary for us to prove this in the public arena, before we can be taken seriously and elected to positions of power.
Each women who successfully infiltrates the male dominated political world, makes it less difficult for other women to challenge the stereotypes.
The same can be said for any 'monority' group.

I don't believe there is a conspiracy to keep us from prominence in the political arena. It is simply a matter of ingrained gender stereotypes informing our decisions.

Oh, and the fact that women tend not to be power crazed megalomaniacs!!!! hehehe

Kim

Comment by tlcorbin

April 11th 2008 01:25

hhaha, Damo, I wasn't examining the character of those women, the requisite was only that they held positions of power; were I to judge candidates on their symbolic power, I'd choose Mickey Mouse - well in this case, Minnie Mouse.

~ ~ ~

Go Kim, misogynistic attitudes aside, the glass ceiling imposed on women by a male dominated society for the countries highest office boils down to "they're not crazed megalomaniacs?"

Hmmm, I can see that, would you mind getting me a coffee refill......, hahaha teasing. I would welcome a woman of merit to fill the office, I've raised my daughters not to exclude that (politics) as a career possibility.

Raven

Comment by Louie

April 11th 2008 06:37

randomthoughts
Phil's Wellness Tips

I love the show Commander in Chief, maybe Gina Davis should run.

Comment by tlcorbin

April 11th 2008 08:16

She's a favorite of mine Louie, and a great Pirate commander as well.

Raven

Comment by D. Armenta

April 23rd 2008 01:37

The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.

Why these women won’t step up to the plate and run for president eludes me; is it the systematic character assassination of the vetting process that scares them away?

Nope. Too much moral fiber.

Now, if that ^ isn't a great straight line I don't know what is.

Personally, I don't give a rat's ass what our next president's gender is; I just want an honest one who wants the best for the country.

The U.S. is being led down a side alley with all of this "first female president", "first black president" stuff..how about the best person for the job??!!

Comment by D. Armenta

April 23rd 2008 01:37

The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.

Hi Raven!! Oh, let me start the jokes:

When you have too much moral fiber, you can't possibly produce the amount of crap needed to run for president!

Yep. I went there...

Comment by tlcorbin

April 23rd 2008 16:20

Hello D.Armenta, I’m with you, who are the most qualified persons for the position of president of the US; that is the only worthwhile question that needs to be answered.

Hahahaha, OK fine, here's my visual contribution to go with your comment: