Despite progress in recent decades when it comes to diversity and inclusion, women remain significantly underrepresented in political leadership positions worldwide. From local councils to national parliaments, the voices of women, who make up half the global population, are still marginalized in many regions. Systemic barriers, cultural norms, and institutional biases continue to limit female’s access to political power, resulting in policies that often fail to fully reflect their needs and perspectives. As more attention is given to gender equality, it is crucial to examine the factors contributing to this imbalance and explore ways to promote women’s full participation in politics across the globe.
For this discussion, we will focus primarily on women elected as the head of state in 2024. Nearly half the world’s population resides in countries that held elections in 2024, with at least 70 nations going to the polls this year. These elections spanned local and national levels, making 2024 a pivotal year for democracy as millions of people around the world choose their leaders. However, despite the number of elections, as of October 23, 2024, only seven women have been elected to lead their countries. Four have been elected as presidents – Myriam Spiteri Debono, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, Halla Tómasdóttir, and Claudia Sheinbaum – while three have been elected as prime ministers – Judith Suminwa, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, and Harini Amarasuriya. This stark disparity highlights the persistent gender gap in global leadership, despite significant democratic activity.
Historically women have been at a disadvantage when it comes to employment and work life. Traditionally, around the world women are expected to stay at home and be homemakers. Their main responsibility was to have children, raise them, and take care of the house. Today, in most parts of the world, women have access to all levels of education, can vote, and have the ability to partake in any type of work that they would like to. There is no longer an evident expectation for women to get married and be mothers. However, because our society developed under these circumstances, certain aspects of traditional gender roles are still obstacles that women must surpass to be able to be active members of the government. These gender norms shape the responsibilities that women have outside of the office. They are 15 times more likely than men to be responsible for childcare, and 16 times more likely to have to shoulder most of the housework. They are also less likely to be encouraged by others if they plan to run for office.
Even with these obstacles in our society, women still participate in politics around the world. In the United States women make up 28.2% of congress, 25% of senate and 31.9% of statewide elective executive people. The 28.2% in congress and the 31.9% of statewide elective executive women are record statistics in the United States. Even though men still outnumber women there has been a clear increase in female representatives in the government in the United States. Based on this increased number of women in politics, research shows that female legislators are more likely to introduce legislation that directly benefits women. This could be in different areas of policy, but for example, there tends to be more legislation from gender equality in measures of reproductive health initiatives. Their presence also tends to shift the focus towards social welfare programs, education, and children’s issues. These are areas that are often overlooked by their male counterparts who at times prioritize business, the economy, and foreign affairs. Even though this research is from the House of Representatives, it is believed that if a woman were to be elected president there would be a similar focus on these issues.
Despite seeing differences in policies passed by women versus their male counterparts these are not patterns that have direct correlations or that are observed all around the world. These differences are not always large or consistent. However, certain observations are that women legislators tend to bring resources back to their home districts and are more collaborative in their work. Studies also show that female lawmakers tend to work across party lines, co-sponsor more legislation, and take consensus building approaches to governance. Their presence in office is often linked to increased political engagement among female constituents and there is also an increased number of women who run for office at lower levels.
Moreover, the differences between male and female politicians go beyond individual policies; the presence of women in office may lead to more real-world outcomes. For example, in India, local councils led by women implemented 62% more drinking water projects than those led by men. In Norway, a study found a direct causal relationship between the presence of women in municipal councils and increased childcare coverage. Women’s leadership also tends to focus on collaborative approaches, even in politically charged environments, which often leads to different, and more inclusive policy outcomes. This diversity of experience and leadership enriches decision-making processes and brings previously overlooked issues, such as gender-based violence and parental leave, to the forefront of political discourse.
In conclusion, while significant progress has been made in recent years toward gender equality, the underrepresentation of women in political leadership remains a big issue. The 2024 elections, with millions of people casting their votes, saw only a small number of women elected as heads of state, underscoring these persistent gender barriers. Female leadership may bring unique and valuable perspectives which are a positive change in this continuously politically polarized world. To create a more inclusive and representative political landscape, it is crucial that we continue to break these barriers and actively encourage women to pursue these leadership roles. Their participation is not just a matter of fairness; it enriches policy discussions, and it may lead to more comprehensive solutions. An increased presence of women in leadership positions will offer hope for a future where political institutions reflect the diverse experiences and needs of all citizens.