Women heads of state. Will USA join them?

By Kaelyn Covington

From Mexico to Denmark, countries all around the globe have elected female leaders, such as president or prime minister, shattering glass ceilings and reshaping the political climate.

However, in a nation that prides itself on democracy and advancement, the United States has never seen a woman win the presidency. How has the world’s most powerful country lagged in breaking this historical precedent?

And can incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris be the woman to take the presidency finally? The answer lies in a complicated web of historical precedent, cultural implications, and systematic factors.

Mexico’s first female President Claudia Sheinbaum said Oct. 1 in her inauguration speech, “Those who dreamed of the possibility that one day, no matter if we were born as men or women, we would achieve our dreams and desires without our sex determining our destiny.”

When Aniyah Barnett, a junior at Hampton University, and assistant director of Women’s Caucus at Hampton University read this quote, she said: “Obviously sex should not determine anyone's destiny, but I think the lack of a female president has become so normalized and accepted, people are having a hard time grappling with the idea that a woman could soon be our president. I’m not sure if America had ever thought we’d get this far, but I think we’re ready.”

Despite allegations that female leaders are somehow detrimental to their countries, impactful women around the world are making major changes for the betterment of their people. A recent study by Penn Law’s International Women’s Human Rights class found that during the COVID-19 pandemic, women-led countries had on average, lower rates of cases and deaths.

Angela Merkel, the first female Chancellor of Germany, led Europe’s largest economy, guiding Germany through a financial crisis and back to growth.

Upon taking office as Australia’s first female prime minister, Julia Gillard led the nation to become the first to enact plain packaging laws for cigarettes, deterring smoking.

So, with women making great strides for their nations, what is taking America so long to open its eyes?

The absence of a female president in the United States reflects the deeply rooted historical, cultural, and systematic barriers put in front of women. Despite progress for women’s rights, societal norms have long confined women to traditional gender roles, making progressing to the highest office in the land an uphill battle.

Pioneers, such as Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman to ever be elected and serve as a United States representative, and the first Black woman to run for a major party’s presidential nomination in 1972, faced not only gender discrimination but intense racial prejudice that barred her from the White House. However, her campaign highlighted the burden experienced by women of color in any political environment and cultivated a legacy that continues to shape politics today.

Hillary Clinton's historical 2016 bid for the White House, which saw her come closer than any woman before, also showcased the persistent challenges women face. Although she won many Americans' hearts and the popular vote, she lost in the Electoral College. Despite being one of the most qualified candidates in recent political history, Clinton's campaign was marred by sexism, double standards, and media coverage often focused on her appearance or personality rather than policy.

Her entire run for the presidency revealed how American perceptions of leadership are still strongly linked to men, unfairly hindering women’s progress.

The road to a female president in the United States has been arduous and marred by some progress, but also persistent barriers. While nations around the globe have embraced the concept of female leadership, and even seen great success for their nations, America remains hesitant to break the mold.

Pioneers such as Shirley Chisholm and Hilary Clinton have paved the way, but exposed a dark underbelly of deep-rooted sexism and racism that still permeates through American politics. Despite their undeniable qualifications, women still face an unfair playing field because their leadership is examined differently than that of men.

However, the success of women leaders globally indicates that gender is not a predictor of political capability. As America reflects on its values of democracy and progress, the question remains: will the nation finally embrace a female president?

With Vice President Kamala Harris in a prominent position, there is hope that the tide will soon turn. However, until systemic and cultural obstacles are fully overcome, the path to the Oval Office may remain a challenging one for women.

?

AT LEAST 20, 21st century nations were led by women. In the previous century, women were president or prime minister of Great Britain, Israel, India, and Pakistan.

The writer is a student in the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications at Hampton University.