We need women in government

International heads of state lead the way, while we play catch-up

Women are far from infallible creatures. Like men, they can be corrupt, wretched, and dangerous. In the 20th century, Mao Zedong’s wife, Jiang Qing, committed horrific crimes under the name of communism. Queen Ranavalona, who reigned over Madagascar from 1828 to 1861, tortured and murdered a third of her people for their ethnicities or religions. Less dramatic and more modern examples include the infamously air-headed Sarah Palin and morally dubious Hillary Clinton, both of whom have been the subjects of intense criticism and parody over the past decade.

These women proved to be unfit for their positions of power, and yet they are certainly not representative of women as a whole.

When considering women in politics, it is important to keep in mind that their strengths and faults are as a result of being human, not female. They should be viewed as equally likely to succeed or fail in politics as males, and yet accounts of their political efforts are less common in society. The reason for that is simple: they are given less opportunity to try.

When it comes down to it, it is unfair to deny a person the ability to work because of their gender. There is no well-supported reason why the government should refuse the inclusivity of women, and by genuinely inviting them into public office, they will prove their dedication to dismantling the patriarchal injustices that currently permeate Western politics.

Including women in politics will also provide fairer representation of the population. Since women are still a minority in this area, having a fellow female in power gives them pride in their identity and hope for the future. Male-dominated governments are less likely to address the issues that plague women, so if they are not heard in politics, significant problems may go unresolved. Strong, educated women can help, and there are plenty of them out there.

Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir is a wonderful example of a responsible, political woman representing minorities. In 2009, she gained the title of Iceland’s first female Prime Minister and the world’s first openly lesbian head of government. She also became the nation’s longest-serving member of parliament.

Another woman to become the first female PM, Park Geun-hye, came into power in South Korea in 2013. Both of her parents were assassinated when Park was young. She has a degree in engineering and has successfully kept relations between North and South Korea civil and controlled.

Angela Merkel is in her 10th year as the Chancellor of Germany and de facto leader of the European Union. She is highly praised for portraying Germany as a humanitarian superpower worldwide.

The list goes on. It seems that the rest of the world has already begun to try their hands at welcoming women into politics. Why is North America—considered a largely progressive, democratic continent—falling behind?

Despite the progress that’s been made, only 10 of the world’s 152 heads of state are currently female. That means that women constitute a pathetic 6.6 per cent globally. To truly include women in politics, we have a long way to go.