Female Politicians
In the world of politics, women have always been underrepresented. However, there has been a steady rise in the number of female politicians over the past decades. These women have pioneered a path for reshaping the political arena to make it more inclusive for all members of society, ensuring that women’s voices are acknowledged at a global level while promoting inclusive and representative policies. Despite these developments, gender-equal representation and participation in electoral politics has a long road ahead. Even now, a majority of political decisions and policies are formulated along the lines of male-dominated schemes and needs, ignoring the intricacies of catering to a diverse public.
The history of women’s suffrage and the struggle to attain voting rights has been arduous, paved with strife, hard work, and dedication. The reluctance of a patriarchal society to allot equitable rights to women and allow them to gain autonomy and agency has set women back decades as compared to their male counterparts. A large number of voters to date remain unwilling and suspicious of voting for women candidates, correlating their political and individual competencies to their gender and prevalent societal stereotypes. This facet of electoral politics has hindered the growth of representative and inclusive democracies.
Yet there is reassurance to be gained from the progress women have made in the political sphere. Over the last five decades, the global arena has witnessed the advent of female politicians in leading legislative and executive positives, competently leading their respective countries to a road of development and fame. One such example is that of Angela Merkel, former Chancellor of Germany (2005–2021). Born in Germany, Merkel achieved a doctorate in Quantum Chemistry following which she entered the realm of politics. She was a member of the Christian Democratic Party (CDU). Becoming the Chancellor in 2005, she was the first woman to hold the position and the second longest-serving Chancellor in German history. She led Germany through turbulent times like the European Sovereign debt crisis and the high influx of refugees from around the globe. She also passed a set of climate policies worth 54 billion Euros while leading Germany through the COVID-19 pandemic. (Webber, 2023).
Indira Gandhi is another world leader who paved the way for women in politics. She served as Prime Minister of India from 1966–1977. She was the daughter of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister. She became the Prime minister in 1966. Facing criticism and competition from her party members, she had to fight for her place in the party. When Gandhi was expelled from the party in 1969, she started a separate wing of Congress with the help of several other party members who supported her. It was under her leadership that India helped Bangladesh in attaining independence from Pakistan and her policies such as the Green Revolution had a great impact on making India a leading and independent nation. She was a symbol of perseverance for many Indian women. (Ramnath Goenka | Indian Media Mogul, Newspaper Tycoon & Journalist, n.d.)
Although these are just two examples, there are many like Jacinda Ardern (Former New Zealand PM), Sanna Mirella Marin (Former Finnish PM), and Margaret Thatcher (Former British PM) who have beaten the odds in a predominantly patriarchal world and opened new avenues for women to achieve their potential.
By Abdul Samad, UG2023, Ashoka University
References
Ramnath Goenka | Indian Media Mogul, Newspaper Tycoon & Journalist. (n.d.). Britannica. Retrieved March 27, 2024, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ramnath-Goenka
Webber, M. (2023, July 21). Who Is Angela Merkel? Investopedia. Retrieved March 27, 2024, from https://www.investopedia.com/angela-merkel-7559368
