Introduction

Though the United States of America is considered to be a global leader in terms of democratic practices, the presence of women in politics is considerably less, and in its 248 years of independence, the U.S. has yet to have a female president. In the history of the United States Congress, more men named John have been elected to Congress than all women who were voted into Congress combined. According to new statistics compiled by PEW Research, only 28.5% of the U.S. House of Representatives are women, despite making up for more than half of the population. Greater involvement by women means different perspectives, representative governance, and wiser decisions. Electing a woman to the nation’s highest office and advancing more women into politics would be far more than symbolic actions; such strides would be important steps toward equal rights, effectiveness, and compassion in government.

Feminism and Political Leadership Through History

Feminism in America has evolved through two main phases: difference feminism and equality feminism. Difference feminism, which dominated from the 1930s to the 1950s, argued that men and women are inherently different, with society needing to accommodate these differences. The problem was, however, that these kinds of arguments usually tended to create divisions rather than achieve uniform rights on maternity leave and the Equal Pay Act. Equality feminism emerged in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement to advocate that woman should have the same rights and opportunities as men. The movement saw major legal leaps like barriers were broken in education, employments, and access to credit.

Jeannette Rankin became the first woman elected to Congress in 1917, and the event was the starting point for women to represent her. In 1972, Shirley Chisholm became the first Black female candidate for the U.S. presidential nomination and opened ways for women and racial progress. Her candidacy set the scene for future generations of women in politics and put the rising clamor for female leadership into much clearer focus.

At this time, women in Congress have surged to about 150 serving-a remarkable increase of 59 percent over the last decade. This rapid growth in representatives has also diversified with multiracial women holding office and bringing new insights. These changes signal momentum toward more inclusive and representative government and strengthen the simmering movement for a woman president.

Representation Matters, Here’s Why:

Although PEW research data shows that 64 percent of Americans do not consider gender to be an important factor for the new president, research has also shown that one of the leading causes for the lack of presence of women in politics is the lack of female role models. Unlike Hilary Clinton and her “ever-cracking glass ceiling”, Kamala Harris has not taken the route of “vote for me to make history” because it is simply overused and at this point, unnecessary. It is pretty evident that if she wins, she will become the first female president, the first president of South-Asian descent, and the first black female president. And while Harris is going pretty strong with her feminist agenda, she has opted not to play the gender card for her campaign. Her strategically avoiding making a big deal about being a woman is not letting Trump make a big deal about it either.

Is the gender narrative a tale as old as time? Yes. But does the fact remain that women are still underrepresented, avoided, and overlooked while making policy decisions? Also, yes. The overturn of Roe v. Wade is a glaring example of exactly that.

Women need representation because, statistically speaking, women get things done. For example, if women make up the majority of a political party, that party is most likely to complete its electoral promises, women secure more bills in Congress compared to men, and they spend more time on electorate services. Women also inspire and understand other women. “Women know more, care more and talk more about politics when they see more women running for and occupying public office”. Young girls are likely to be more involved in politics if they grow up in the presence of positive representation of women in the field.

Therefore, representation matters. Representation emphasizes issues that impact vulnerable populations; issues such as healthcare, education, and social welfare. Historically speaking, women leaders are more likely to advocate for mental health, maternal care, universal healthcare, etc. They are also most likely to emphasize equity in educational sectors—secure funding for schooling for children coming from disadvantaged communities. Women in leadership positions also prioritize legislation aimed at battling domestic and sexual violence.

It has also been proven that women leaders work harder to represent their constituencies, which generally translates into a more responsive government. The responsiveness of their policy focus has been coupled with what they have experienced in life and thus focuses on care-oriented issues. One report analyzed more than 500 studies and found that when women held political power, there was a marked increase in attention to social policies that benefit all citizens, not just women. Evidence exists that with more women being elected into office, the incidence of bribery over public services decreases, especially in environments where they had long been excluded. One of the studies showed that for every increase in one standard deviation in women’s representation at the level of regional parliaments, self-reported bribery rates among citizens went down by 1.5%.

Obstacles Women Face in Political Representation

Double standards, cultural biases, and character assassination are major issues faced by women in politics. More often than not, personal decisions on life, appearance, and choices by women in political life are questioned, while this is not the case with male politicians very often. In the case of Ilhan Omar, a Muslim congressman has been the target of several Islamophobic attacks and even death threats, which represents dual discrimination based on gender and culture for women from underrepresented populations. Every step of the way, detractors seemed more interested in using her character against her rather than her politics, as Hillary was battered by relentless personal attacks.

This also comes under the bigger trend where women are judged, not based on their politics, but based on their violation of gender roles. An aggressive, unmarried, divorced is often subject to moral policing as a means of discrediting the legitimacy of the leadership. This is also used to dissuade further women from coming into politics and thus tends to retain the patriarchal systems that hamper their rise into successful positions.

Strategies to Increase Women’s Political Participation

The missing leading role models, Girls look up to politicians, leaders who perform well and represent their struggles, voicing issues close to their hearts. Figures such as Malala Yousafzai, who rose to be an international icon of resilience and a Nobel Peace Prize winner for her girls’ education advocacy, inspire women all over the world. Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has forced major social changes in environmental justice and gender-based violence. Her compassion and inclusive leadership set the example of the magnitude women can effect social change.

In the U.S., Vice President Kamala Harris has covered women’s most important priorities, from reproductive rights through to maternal health care. During her visit to a Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Paul, Minnesota in March, Harris said “We have to be a nation that trusts women.” She has taken several policies regarding maternal healthcare including extending Medicare postpartum coverage from 60 days to 12 months, the Maternal Health Crisis Blueprint initiative, training nearly 2000 maternity care providers, Project Newborn Supply Kit Pilot, etc.

Another meaningful way to support women candidates is by helping them build a network. Whether it be in the cost of child care or transportation, too often financial barriers stand in the way of women running for office. Programs like Fund Her provide the necessary support to overcome such barriers. The political parties should treat the female candidates as equals and actively work toward advancing them. The mentorship programs and community networks provide the necessary support for women to emerge as viable political candidates. They come together to form the bedrock that enables women to imagine themselves in leadership and see through the barriers of political representation.

Conclusion

The underrepresentation of women is due to inherent systemic issues that are deeply entrenched. Representation of women is not just about equality; it is very critical to make governance more representative and effective. Women bring fresh perspectives to policymaking and are arguably more empathetic toward the needs of disadvantaged groups. Furthermore, studies support that if political power is in the hands of a woman, then corruption goes down while societal policies go up. The expectation of more women in leadership serves to nurture a more just and equal society. As Margaret Thatcher once famously said, “If you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman.”