By: Erika Morales, Contributing Writer
As the world progresses, the movements of women in the political world have grown. More women are becoming prominent leaders in the world of politics.
According to the Women and Foreign Policy Program, women’s leadership positions in politics promote equality, stability, and cooperation between two political parties that oppose one another.
Female U.S. senators are more likely to cross party lines to find common ground. It enables them to pass more legislation. These legislations usually advance gender equality, including sexual harassment and domestic violence.
25 percent of women are parliamentarians on a national level. The Women and Foreign Policy state that countries with female parliamentarians are less likely to resort to violence when face with an international crisis.
1A recent study done by Harvard University has found that, prior to the pandemic, women leaders were rated at 53.1 in the effectiveness of leadership compare to males who rated at 49.8. During the pandemic, women’s rating went up to 57.2, and male’s rating went up to 51.5.
21 percent of women were government ministers. Women serving as Head of State or Government are found in 22 countries. Halimah Yacob is the Head of State of Singapore. Bidya Devi Bhandari is the Head of State of Nepal. Erna is the Head of Government of Norway. This leaves 119 countries that have yet to have a woman be the Head of State.
The United States is slowly opening its door to women in the political world. Though there are many males in leadership roles, there are more women taking on a leadership role in politics.
“In the United States, we have Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, as well as three court supreme court justices: Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Amy Coney Barrett,” said Professor Frank Orlando, an instructor of political science at Saint Leo University.
Vice President Kamala Harris was the first African American to serve as the Attorney General of California. She is also the second African American woman to serve in the United States senate. Harris is now the first female Vice President of the United States.
Nancy Pelosi is the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House. Pelosi was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 2013. She strives to lower health care costs, increase workers’ pay through economic growth, and rebuild America.
In 1997, Elena Kagan was appointed as Deputy Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy. Afterward, Kagan was appointed as Deputy Director of the Domestic Policy Council. In 2008 former President Barack Obama appointed Kagan to be the first female solicitor general which was later confirmed by the Senate in 2009. Elena Kagan began her career as the Supreme Court Justice in 2010.
Sonia Sotomayor is the first Hispanic and the third woman to serve as the judge in the Supreme Court. Former President Barack Obama nominated Sotomayor for Supreme Court Justice on May 26, 2009. Confirmed by the Senate on Aug. 6, 2009. Her liberal views have served the court well.
Each of these women holds different views but they all strive for a single goal: justice for all.
Prominent women leaders are not only seen in the United States.
“One of the most influential leaders in the world is German Chancellor Angela Merkel, along with EU President Ursula Von Der Leyen,” said Orlando.
Angela Merkel was elected for her first term as chancellor in 2005. Merkel was the first female leader of the German political party. Angela Merkel’s leadership approach is measurable, methodical, and well-tempered. She seeks cooperation and not confirmation.
Ursula Von Der Leyen is the first woman to be the leader of the European Union Commission. Leyen values gender balance. She is striving to create a European Green Deal. Leyen has also said that the EU would be more assertive towards the U.S. now that she has taken office.
Barbados now has its first-ever woman Prime Minister, Mia Mottley. Mottley won the general elections on May 24, 2018. Mottley is currently serving as the Development Committee Chair for the joint committee World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
Halimah Yacob became the Head of State of Singapore on Sept. 14, 2017. Yacob was elected as Speaker of Parliament in 2013 making her the first woman to hold this position. Yacob held various positions during her time serving in the National Trades Union of Congress.
As the years pass more and more women are taking on political leadership roles.
“I think that the world of politics is definitely becoming more welcoming to women because women are now voting at a higher rate and running for office more often,” said Orlando.
Women leadership holds many potentials for the future.
