America’s ‘exceptional’ lack of a female President in global perspective

[YoungDemCA]

While many countries, including Germany, Denmark and even Rwanda have embraced quotas for gender representation in government, the U.S. has shown no interest in adopting such a policy.

This is startling because the U.S. is a leading advocate of women’s rights around the world through its agencies for international development.

Hillary Clinton has been a leading champion of international women’s rights as the former First Lady, U.S. Senator and Secretary of State. In my new book, The Global Hillary, I suggest that as a leading advocate of “smart power” – that is, combining America’s ‘hard’ military power and ‘soft’ cultural power – Clinton is arguably better suited to tackle America’s global challenges than other candidates.

Voters seem to agree. It is likely this is the election when female power finally reaches the White House, almost a century after women secured the right to vote in 1920 and 241 years after the country’s founding.

If it happens, this historic achievement will advance America’s image and improve the conditions of girls, women and families at home and abroad.

snip:

Of the 175 current heads of state around the world, 18 – or just over 10 percent – are women. Most female leaders globally have had short stints of fewer than four years.

One reason the U.S. hasn’t embraced gender parity in the executive branch is
due to the fear of the unknown or sexism. Universally, women got the right to vote later than men and are still climbing the ladder of equality. Michael Genovese and Janie Steckenrider of Loyola Marymount University suggest these main reasons and others have kept women from reaching the White House.

It is also the case that the media amplifies gender bias. In her book “Women for President: Media Bias in Nine Campaigns,” Erika Falk of John Hopkins University describes some of the common stereotypes about women running for president:

A woman is not emotionally or physically capable of assuming the obligations of the most powerful office in the world … We’d be in mortal danger with a female president. … Definitely, a woman is too emotional. She acts on impulse. And often she’s too sensitive to criticism.

The gender bias may cut across other sectors of the economy, where only eighteen percent of women occupied the corner office. Evidence from the private sector suggests that men are judged on potential, while women are judged on their performance.

https://www.rawstory.com/2016/05/americas-exceptional-lack-of-a-female-president-in-global-perspective/

[Hiraeth]

1. Her potential is what scares me. But then, so does Trump's. It SO is NOT a gender thing for me.

[Cali_Democrat]

2. a female with potential?

How frightening!

[dana_b]

3. "Clinton is arguably better suited to tackle America’s global challenges than other candidates."

Uh, no. And that's why she is STILL having to battle Bernie. Because almost half of us disagree with her ability and especially her judgment in dealing with America's global challenges.