WOMEN HEADS OF STATE

Women’s News December 05/January 2006

Genevieve Carbery

With a recent cluster of women heads of state elected and well-placed for election, one might be surprised to learn that at the beginning of 2005 there were only 8 women heads of state in the world. Can the election of women leaders in Germany, Liberia and potentially Chile and the US be read as a sign of increased gender equality?

Ellen Johnson-Sirlaf, 67, become Africa’s first female president in November following a contentious election race in Liberia with former footballer George Weah. Nicknamed the “iron lady”, the former World Bank official has had a colourful thirty year political career – going into exile and being imprisoned for her opposition to various governments.

Liberia is recovering from almost two decades of civil war which according to amnesty international is “characterized by gross violations of human rights by all sides”. Johnson Sirlaf hopes to “bring motherly sensitivity and emotion to the presidency”. Women make up only 5% of the Liberian parliament and the female literacy rate at 39% is almost half of male. Thus her election is not a sign of gender equality but a small step.

In Germany, Angela Merkel, leader of the German conservative party CDU (Christian Democrat), has been appointed first woman chancellor, eight weeks after the elections forced a ‘grand coalition’ with the SPD (Social Democrats).

Germany ranks 9^th in the world for participation of women in economic and political life according to the UN 2003 Gender Empowerment Index. One third of the German parliament is women. Despite this men earn over double the amount of women. Merkel has said her government will be judged by a reduction in unemployment. With this rate at 11% Merkel gender equality may not be the most pressing challenge she faces.

Chilean socialist candidate, Michelle Bachelet, 54 has a strong lead in the presidential race to be decided in December. Bachelet was one of the 29,000 people tortured during Pinochet’s regime. If she wins the pediatrician will be the second woman president of a Latin American country.

Chile ranks 61^st in the world in terms of women’s economic and political participation (GEM) women earning on average less than half of men. However, the number of women in the Chilean parliament has almost doubled in the last 10 years, 12.5% . Gender equality seems to be increasing in Chile and certainly the election of a separated working woman is considered a cultural shift in the predominantly catholic country.

The hit US television drama “Commander in Chief” portraying the nation’s first female drama, has fuelled debate on the possibility of a woman in the White House. Some conservative commentators suggest the show is a plot to get voters used to the idea of Hilary Clinton as president.

US is 12^th in the measure of women’s economic and political participation (GEM). Women hold almost 15% of seats in parliament and earn 60% of men. It is still not clear if Hilary Clinton will be the democratic challenger in 2008. However the fierce debate on the issue points to uncertainty about having women as political leaders. Thus the election of a woman president would indicate a positive change towards gender equality.

Perhaps gender inequality will not be reduced by having women in power, rather feminists male or female who make gender equality an important issue.