In the last elections held in early June, Mexico elected a woman as its president. Claudia Sheinbaum became the first female president in the history of Mexico and the 136th elected or appointed female head of state or head of government in worldwide history. Whilst gender stereotypes are being challenged and the diverse representation of women is becoming more evident, there is still a need for more progressive mindsets and inclusive behavior around the world.
Despite the efforts towards women's equality and the fact that women must play major roles in decision-making and leadership, progress in women's political representation around the world is not fast enough. According to UN Women, at the current rate, gender equality in the highest positions of states will not be reached for another 130 years.
Former UN Women Executive Director Phumzille Mlambo-Ngcuka said that „[n]o country prospers without engagement of women. We need women's representation that reflects all women and girls in all their diversity and abilities.“ Women can make a significant contribution to high politics, for example by more likely crossing party lines to find common ground.
Women leaders back in history
Looking back to the past, women have often been sidelined in politics and kept away from power. Yet throughout history, there have been many women who fought their way into politics, and even more, who reached the top of political life and became heads of state or government.
The first ever elected women head of state in the world was Khertek Anchimaa-Toka. She served as the head of a small Asian state called the Tuvan People's Republic from 1940 to 1944 and led this small Soviet country alongside her husband.
Another powerful woman that needs to be mentioned is Indira Gandhi. She was the first and only female prime minister of India. This four-time elected head of government served from 1966 to 1977 and from 1980 to 1984. She served her country until her death in 1984, when she was assassinated.
Furthermore, Israel Golda Meir was elected in 1969 and led the country through the Yom Kippur war with a coalition of Arab states. Before that she served as Minister of Labour and Foreign Affairs. She also played a crucial role in fundraising for the new state of Israel.
In total, 59 UN Member States have had a woman head of state or government. Nine of the thirteen current women leaders are the first ever for their respective governments. Only 14 countries have had more than one woman head of government.
Conversely, in Switzerland, women are repeatedly elected to the position of head of state. However, Switzerland does not have a solo leader, but instead a Federal Council consisting of seven members.
Angela Merkel: long-time most powerful women in the world
Despite this unsatisfactory position of women in politics, there is a way to reach a strong and powerful place in politics and leading the country. According to Forbes, the former German head of government, Chancellor Angela Merkel, was fourth in the rank of most powerful people in the world ever, just after China's Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Donald Trump.
She has also been ranked as the Forbes world's most powerful woman 14 times. After Angela Merkel left active political life in 2021, president of the European commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has been ranked as the world’s most powerful woman.
The status of women is inadequate not only at the highest levels of the executive, but also in the legislature. According to the United Nations, only 26.5 % of parliamentarians in 2024 in single or lower houses are women.
Newly elected female leaders and politicians
The most recent woman to be elected head of state is Mexican president, Claudia Sheinbaum. The climate scientist and former Mexico City mayor won the presidential election over her biggest rival, a woman as well, Xóchitl Gálvez.
Shortly before that, a presidential election was also held in Iceland. The new president of this small Nordic country will be a woman, but not the first one in the country's history. Businesswoman Halla Tomasdottir won against former Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir and has taken office on 1 August.
The president of India – the world's most populous country – is Droupadi Murmu. She has served since 2022 when she was elected as a candidate of National Democratic Alliance. When speaking of women leaders in powerful countries, it is necessary to mention Giorgia Meloni and her party, the Brothers of Italy, that won in the 2022 general election.
To date, Czechia has never had a female president or prime minister, but currently has a female head of the Chamber of Deputies, Markéta Adamová Pekarová, who is only the second woman to hold that office. Furthermore, the USA has never had a female president, but this could change this year with Kamala Harris as a candidate. Current vice president and former elected prosecutor entered the presidential race after Joe Biden announced that he will step aside.
Women in other political positions
The data presented by UN Women shows that women currently occupy the position of head of state or government in 27 out of 206 countries worldwide. According to the UN Development programme, as of January 2023, 22.8 % of government ministers were women. At the same time, only 13 countries reached the quota of 50 % or more women in cabinet. Finally, in national parliaments in single or lower houses, women accounted for only 26.5 % of members.
Interestingly, the best situation is in Latin America and the Caribbean where women hold about 36 % of parliamentary seats. On the contrary, the worst situation is in Northern Africa and Western Asia with 18 % of women Members of Parliament.
When looking at the data of concrete states, Rwanda’s parliament is 61 % women. Among UN members, only six states out of 193 (excluding Rwanda, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, UAE, and Cuba) have achieved gender parity in parliament.
The world needs women in politics and in public decision-making
Women certainly have their place in politics and their representation is essential. According to Winnie Byanyima, executive director of the independent non-governmental organization Oxfam International, “it is not about men against women, but there is evidence to show through research that when you have more women in public decision-making, you get policies that benefit women, children and families in general.”
Women need to be empowered and encouraged to participate in public decision-making, as women in leadership are considered to adopt more empathetic, collaborative and consensus building leadership. Despite the improvement in the status of women in politics, there is still a long way towards equal participation.
Sources
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Businesswoman Halla Tomasdottir set to become Iceland’s next president (June 2024). AlJazeera. Available from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/6/2/businesswoman-halla-tomasdottir-set-to-become-icelands-next-president.
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Photograph
New Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum. Toma de protesta de Claudia Sheinbaum 3, author: EneasMx, 5 December 2018, source: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED.
