What Will It Take for a Woman to Claim the Presidency?

Women currently lead governments in nearly one-third of the countries around the globe, holding positions as presidents, prime ministers, and chancellors. However, the glass ceiling in the United States remains unbroken following Vice President Kamala Harris’ recent defeat.

Jean Sinzdak, associate director of the Rutgers Center for American Women and Politics, expressed optimism for the future but noted that it may take time. “It absolutely will happen,” she stated, referencing the broader trend of female leadership around the world.

In Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum was recently inaugurated as the 66th president, marking a historic moment as the first woman to hold the office there. The trend of women in leadership roles has been evident in various countries; for instance, Margaret Thatcher served as the United Kingdom’s first female prime minister from 1979 to 1990, while Angela Merkel led Germany as its first female chancellor from 2005 to 2021.

Countries like India and Israel have also broken this barrier, with Indira Gandhi becoming prime minister in 1966 and Golda Meir following three years later. The global landscape showcases a significant shift, with women leading nations across continents, with Antarctica being the sole exception.

However, political scientist Kim Fridkin from Arizona State University pointed out that the U.S. lags behind other nations. While female representation in state governorships and the U.S. Senate is improving, the progress toward electing a female president remains slow.

Currently, 13 out of 193 United Nations member states are led by women, with nine of those leaders holding the position for the first time. According to a Pew Research study, this reflects an overall increase since Sri Lanka’s leadership by a woman in 1960.

In the U.S., 45 men have served as president since George Washington took office in 1789. Donald Trump, having been the 45th president, is re-entering the race for a second non-consecutive term, further extending this male-dominated history. Notably, no major American political party nominated a woman for the presidency until Hillary Clinton in 2016, who faced significant challenges in her bid.

Efforts have been made to include women in political leadership roles, such as Walter Mondale selecting Geraldine Ferraro as the first female vice presidential nominee in 1984. Yet, he lost to Ronald Reagan, which for many, highlighted the obstacles women face in politics.

The G7, which includes major Western democracies, has seen five countries elect women to the head of government. Countries such as Canada, Germany, France, Britain, and Italy have all marked significant advancements in female leadership, contrasting with the U.S. and Japan which remain outliers.

Among the G20 nations, 14 have also chosen women for top roles, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Mexico, South Korea, Turkey, and the European Union. The notable exceptions are democracies like the U.S., Japan, and South Africa, alongside non-democratic regimes like Russia and China.

Cultural attitudes play a crucial role in this disparity. Sinzdak notes that some countries foster a more supportive environment for women in politics. The differences between parliamentary systems and presidential systems, as noted by Karen Beckwith from Case Western Reserve University, also influence these dynamics. In parliamentary democracies, party leaders can be changed more readily, while U.S. presidents typically cannot be removed from office without significant legal proceedings.

Efforts to encourage more women at lower political levels are vital for increasing their representation in national politics. According to Senate records, only 60 women have served in the U.S. Senate, with 25 currently in office. The House of Representatives has reached a historic high of 126 female members.

Despite Arizona’s success in electing women to high office—being the first state to have five female governors—campaign dynamics can still pose challenges. Analyst Paul Bentz pointed out that Harris faced significant hurdles, including a campaign that focused largely on her opponent’s weaknesses rather than articulating her vision.

As Fridkin noted, women candidates often navigate the complexities of projecting both strength and positivity as leaders. The pressure for women to conform to certain stereotypes can hinder their political campaigns, as reflected in recent satirical commentary on gender biases in political coverage.

Despite facing setbacks, experts like Sinzdak believe that Harris’s visibility as vice president and a presidential nominee will contribute to the normalization of female leadership in politics. “Women are just part of the presidential election process and it’s not an unusual thing,” she asserted.