Female Leaders, a reaction to the 'American adolescent?' Options

[PalePhoenix]

With recent elections in Liberia and Chile, of all places, the US is being left behind in this progressive stance. Countries like Finland and, more recently, Germany (also Taiwan, Turkey...), are following the lead of Great Britain, India, and others...though it seems a lot more noticible these days. With American aggressions throughout the Mideast, it is a curious phenomenon that more isn't being made of this coincidence. Does anyone else think it could be a subconscious gestalt reaction to our preeminence as the globe's biggest bully?

[Archemini]

I'd say that it is more likely that other countries are doing so to show that they are looking to reform..with their choice of a woman solidifying the means for change. The countries who have elected women into high ranking leadership positions have had calls for reformation and change for years. It may be the idea that women will be best suited to change the problems that men have made, and maybe they're right.

We'll see in the coming years if the German or Liberian leaders help right their countries..maybe that will push us onto the path to having a female leader someday.

[Macaylla]

Hey, hey.... women are just back in fashion for a while!
While the difernce of the sexes is a hobby of mine, there are plenty of Red Queen's out there "Off with her head!" so don't get your hopes up. All I have to remember is Margaret Thatcher. Women bring a different perspective. Chile is a wonderfully modern country with beautiful landscape.About ten years ago I met with one of the more powerful families ( on a business trip), and I noticed a strong equality even then. Chile as you go south has a lot of Germans, so I find it interesting that Germany and Chile have women leaders at the same time.

A reaction to agression? No: nore are we behind the times. We are just going through a phase. A women president will come, but right now I would settle with any sex, provided that they didn't sound like a seventh grader at a school event everytime they stepped up to the microphone!

Makes me remember Nixon almost fondly....... imagine that!

[ganymede]

Whether it's just a fad or not, I think the question is if it's a consequence of American testosterone. I would agree, though I don't know if anyone could really be interviewed and say it was the case. There was a reporter in Chile I saw recently, who was interviewing many women voting (apparently, they have different polling places than the men...not as sexist but to keep the men from influencing their votes which is, I guess, still sexist on some level). Most of them seemed to say "the time was right," but didn't realy explain much more about it. It's a dream of mine to have the world run by women, at least for a decade or so, just to see the possible differences. A stronger UN? Better environmental policy? Guaranteed reproductive freedoms?

Sure, there will always be bad apples and zealots. Women aren't immune to greed and power lust, but as mixed a review as Maggie Thatcher got (Sinead O'Connor, anybody!?) she still dragged that country out of a very bad situation. Yesterday, Hillary Clinton took some digs at the GOP. It seems like whenever she speaks now, people are using a microscope to find some indication of a presidential run.

[PalePhoenix]

Add Greece to the list:

"It is a wise government that relies upon the judgment and advice of a woman as a foreign minister or secretary of state," President Bush said Friday to laughter and applause.

He was toasting Greece's foreign minister, Dora Bakoyannis, at a celebration of Greek Independence Day at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. Bakoyannis, who was mayor of Athens when it hosted the Olympic Games in the summer of 2004, was in Washington for talks with U.S. officials and to receive kudos from her peers.

With Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek American Orthodox community in the audience, Bush said America's founding fathers had been inspired by Greece's ancient democratic ideals. When the founders of modern Greece asked for their freedom in 1821, he said, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison supported the cause.

Noting that all three were then members of the ex-presidents' club, Bush added, "I'm not there yet, your Eminence."

On a serious note, he thanked Greece for contributing troops to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. Bakoyannis, in turn, said the United States and five other governments had helped secure Athens and prevent terrorist attacks at the Olympic Games, although Greek taxpayers footed the $1.2 billion security bill.

She spoke proudly about hosting the Olympics, saying their success reflected the best of Greece's aspirations. "It took effort," she said, "but it was immensely gratifying."

- from The Washington Post RSS

He's not there yet, but if he's looking to count himself among Adams, Jefferson, and Madison in anything but title, he will never arrive. A wise government? Surely, he jests. At that exact moment, in an undisclosed location somewhere in the Middle East, Condi choked on a piece of pita bread.

Bakoyannis's first husband, a member of parliament. was assassinated three decades ago, when the 17th of November militant group--formed to oppose Greek military rule--turned to terrorism. In an interview, she noted quietly, "We have had a success story in Greece. The men who killed my husband are behind bars."

[Archemini]

I'm hoping he just meant he'd have the same title as an ex-president, and not a great one. He's more fit to fall into the same group as Grant and Hoover.

More and more countries are turning to female leaders. Chile just installed a female leader and more and more African nations are turning to female leaders who are immediately going through reforms of their nations. I think this is a huge deal for Africa and any of the other countries who currently have female leaders because of the fact that such reform is taking place and they are placing their country's future on their shoulders rather than placing fame in the same location. The more democratized or reformed Africa becomes, the more and more likely it seems we can stamp out most illnesses that have been defeated elsewhere. The more we can reform Africa the more we can bolster their economy and make their nations stronger and help stop malnutrition and hunger.

Granted, other nations still need reform and still need some sort of economy but to have Africa, a continent where women are nothing more than objects, start the trend of female leaders is impressive. I enjoy reading about how these women are taking power and taking strong stances out of the gate. I'm interested to see how things play out for them and how well they can pull their countries out of the gutters.

[PalePhoenix]

And now add la España:

After Machismo's Long Reign, Women Gain in Spain

When Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega graduated from law school in the 1970s, Spanish law prohibited her -- and any other woman -- from becoming a judge, serving as a witness in court or opening a bank account.

Today, the angular, outspoken 57-year-old is Spain's first female vice president, helping orchestrate a cultural revolution in the boardrooms and living rooms of the country that coined the word machismo -- male chauvinism -- five centuries ago.

On a completely separate note, perhaps, I always find it curious what adjectives are used to describe women with power. "Angular" and "outspoken?" Consider how we would not commonly use "pert and vivacious" to communicate the qualities of a man in a similar position. Any position, really, even a janitor (maybe I just don't know enough gay janitors). Angular seems kind of gender-neutral, but it is nonetheless a physical characteristic referring to her face and hair. You know, where she puts make-up an' stuff. After that, I'd say outspoken was a lot more universal, but when applied to a female with authority, isn't it really just subtext for "annoying bitch?"

[ganymede]

Looks like they may take France, too (et la France, aussi!). Le w00t.

Gender War à la Française Shakes Up Political Arena

The shop floor of the Suchard factory on the city’s edge is normally a place for gritty work and salty talk, not female empowerment. But here, even the middle-aged men seem eager to make a woman their next president.

The woman in question is Ségolène Royal, the 53-year-old nominee of the Socialist Party, who is turning French political history on its head by turning her sex into an asset.

To allay voters’ concerns about a tepid economy, high unemployment and pervasive globalization, Ms. Royal has portrayed herself as the mother-protector of the nation. The strategy is more feminine than feminist. Ms. Royal seems forever caring, prettified and smiling, as she assures anxious audiences that the country’s generous social safety net will hold and that everything will be all right.

What next, they all send female ambassadors to the UN, staff their cabinets with all women, and THEN decide to invade Iran and North Korea because they remain convinced no man should have nuclear weapons? Sounds like a pretty good idea...

[Archemini]

I'd heard about her. She is apparently quite attractive, which if the French system is like ours, where the more attractive candidate tends to get more votes, she may be a good bet regardless of her platform. I'm assuming she has a solid platform to back up her looks, or they'll be in a lot of trouble after election day. It seems as though many of the European nations are the ones either with female leaders or have come close to female leadership. Russia and the Asian nations will never reach that, nor will Africa or much of South America. Then again, we havn't really had any real progress reports on how the women in power are actually doing right now. How has Germany faired under their leader? Has the Phillipines really done anything under theirs? I'm not saying that one is better than the other, because politics is flawed no matter what happens. I'd just like to see the best person take control, regardless of race, sex or religion. Sadly that will never happen until a good chunk of the population is whiped out and we start over.

Or we can always go into genetic enhancement, where we eliminate all the stupid and ignorant people, creating a more intelligent and compassionate race...

[PalePhoenix]

Or we can always go into genetic enhancement, where we eliminate all the stupid and ignorant people, creating a more intelligent and compassionate race...

Did someone ever say that big knockers weren't the picture of nurturing earth-motherliness?

[Galahad]

I figured someone would have pointed this out already, but the wife of the former Argentine president has won his old office by a large margin. Her first comment out of the gate? "I'm no Hillary Clinton." Not sure if that bodes well, but I'm guessing it doesn't.

[PalePhoenix]

This may be one for the gals, bi guys, and 'mos who just go for fabulous looking, powerful women. From High-Street.org: "Now that Benazir Bhutto is blowed up, who is currently the hottest world leader? I nominate Yulia Tymoshenko...."

I'm in. You're auf'd.

My reaction:

Wow. It's like the Star Wars geeks of the Ukraine kidnapped Calista Flockhart and fed her before releasing her on an otherwise boring Parliament. Second pic: "Help me, Obi Wan Kenobsky. You're my only hope..."

[ganymede]

I read this article on "female heroes" earlier. Thought I'd share:

It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's a Girl?
Feminine heroics are private, fueled by empathy rather than displays of physical strength and power.

Our image of a hero is a man: specifically, a burly, quick-thinking he-man. And the annals of heroism are dominated by courageous men—warriors, explorers and rescuers—acting decisively to protect the defenseless.

One of the major requirements for heroism seems to be a willingness to face physical danger, and as anyone with cable TV can confirm, risk-taking behavior is something men specialize in. Experimental studies have shown that women find risky heroics appealing in potential mates—which is perhaps why men engage in them.

The list of the Carnegie Hero medals, which are awarded by the Carnegie Fund for exceptional acts of bravery like fighting off a bear or saving a drowning child, is overwhelmingly male. But when big muscles or a soldier's training aren't required, women may be slightly more likely than men to take death-defying risks to help others, finds an analysis by psychologists Alice Eagly and Selwyn Becker. The roster of Poles, Dutch and French who harbored Jews during the Nazi occupation skews female, despite the fact that many were executed for their troubles. Living organ donors, who risk disability and endure pain to save another's life, are mostly women.

The difference? Feminine heroics are private, fueled by empathy rather than displays of prowess: Think Harriet Tubman or Mother Teresa. Female risk-taking may not be flamboyant, but it's just as, well, risky: not the stuff of superheroes but no less heroic, in the end. (source)

It may not entirely explain "female leaders," but it goes a way toward understanding how they might behave in a crisis. Running a country is probably a constant crisis, anyway.

[Galahad]

Chavez's ex-wife runs for mayor

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's ex-wife says she will seek to become mayor of her hometown in regional elections next November. Opposition party Podemos has announced that it will officially support Marisabel Rodriguez's candidacy for the top municipal post in Barquisimeto in western Lara state.

Marisabel Rodriguez, 43, has been an outspoken critic of Chavez's policies since the couple divorced in 2004.

“Democracy" has been replaced with "nepotism, inefficiency and intolerance" in Venezuela under Chavez, she told reporters on Saturday.

Chavez sued her in a case involving their 10-year-old daughter in May but later withdrew the suit. (source)

Yes, I know you're probably wondering, "Someone married that ugly, stupid fuck?" But there you go, and she's not just the ex, she's the anti-Chavez. Brilliant. I look forward to reading more about her career, if he lets her win and/or doesn't have her killed.

[JBlueEyes]

Right here at home we've got another Kennedy vying for appointment to Hillary Clinton's vacated Senate seat. Fight, Caroline, beg!

Ms. Kennedy ended weeks of silence with a series of rapid-fire phone calls to the state’s leading political figures, including Gov. David A. Paterson, in which she emphatically and enthusiastically declared herself interested in the seat, according to several people who received the calls.

“She told me she was interested in the position,” Mr. Paterson said at a news conference outside Albany on Monday. He added, “She’d like at some point to sit down and tell me what she thinks her qualifications are.” (read more)

[PalePhoenix]

A new center-left government took office in crisis-hit Iceland Sunday, headed by the country's first openly gay national leader.

Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir and her Cabinet were officially appointed by the head of state, President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, after a tumultuous week that saw Iceland's previous conservative government collapse over the country's economic meltdown.

Sigurdardottir said one of her first acts "will be to change the leadership of the central bank."

Central bank governor David Oddsson, a former prime minister, is disliked by many Icelanders, who say authorities helped cause the economic crash by failing to rein in reckless banks and businesses.

Sigurdardottir, 66, is a former flight attendant and union organizer, and served as social affairs minister in the previous government.

From stewardess to leader of a failing nation. That's some career change. And she's an open lesbian. Yay.