Since the dawn of civilization gender roles have influenced the ratio of men to women in positions of power. These roles have reduced women to less than men. Telling women that they can not possibly be in positions of power simply because “it isn’t a woman’s place.” Although we claim to be progressing as a society, we have yet to eradicate the foolish notion of gender roles and the language we have created to perpetuate them. This pervasive notion of gender roles only discourage women from pursuing congressional positions, thus keeping them from proving their capabilities and advocating for the rights of women. According to Catalyst.org the United States is ranked 69th in the world for women’s representation in government which is only 16%. While countries Rwanda, Cuba, Sweden rank much higher with women making up a little under 50% of their governments.

 

In a recent channel 9 news interview Floyd Ciruli, a political scientist, believes that women are beginning to enter the political arenas, therefore their political progression is happening a lot slower. “It is your county commissioners, mayors, and city council people it’s often your city counsel people that become your legislators.” Where as state representative Diana DeGette said "I think there is still a very strong old boys' network," she said."This generation, they don't actively oppose women getting elected, they just don't see women in those roles." DeGette’s was insinuating that we are living within the confines of gender roles which hinder us from reaching a parity in congressional gender representation. Criuli sees it as women haven't asserted themselves yet, and have no “networking and money to fund campaigns that are extremely expensive." Yet no one is making any efforts build these networks, fund campaigns and ultimately equalize or at least increase representation.

 

The women of Mexico have made advancements to increasing women’s political participation and representation. Network of Support for Women Municipal Leaders (REAMM) is a cadre of Mexican women who work alongside “political parties and government institutes to support women at a local level.”The groups core concern is working with, but not exclusive to, women at municipal levels of government. There objective relate to Ciruli’s opinion on women  entering at municipal level, and then working their way up. These women have built an organization that will help them work toward having an impact on the federal level. In intuitions these women have found that the students have very few resources, therefore lacking job qualifications. As a result Mexico has improved its political infrastructure to increase women participation and representation in government by having each political party donate at least “2% of their financial resources” to develop women’s leadership. Since this law wasn’t being enforced the women of REAMM created another coalition called More Women in Politics to put pressure on the parties. They made a social presence on facebook, began a petition, started hosting events to make citizens aware of the misuse of the designated funds. This pressure led to a reform that ensured each party would submit publicly a budget for how they will spend the funds annually. The next Mexican Federal election saw a 5.4% increase in congress. According to the National Democratic institute this increase has inspired many other women to pursue careers in politics. Representation can spark a change.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 1961 President John F. Kennedy created and commission for the status of women. Although the program did not impact women’s rights it afforded the opportunity for women to mobilize. In 1966 activist organized the National Organization for Women (NOW) was formed. The organizations goal was to bring women’s participation “into mainstream society” and to equalize men and women’s representation in congress, state legislatures and municipal politicians. In 1967 NOW adopted a bill of rights that ressembled the United States Bill of Rights. This bill of rights includes: The Equal Rights Amendment, Enforce Law Banning sex Discrimination in Employment, Maternity Leave Rights in Employment and Social Security Benefits, Tax Deduction of Home and Childcare Expenses for Working Parents, Child Day Care Centers, Equal and Unsegregated Education, Equal Job Training Opportunities and Allowance for Women in Poverty, and many more amendments pertaining to equality of the sexes. These amendments were great strides in NOW, but in order to affect national change they need to be adopted by the U.S. This Bill of Rights ensures the wellbeing of women and men alike. So the question is why hasn’t the congress adopted these amendments or amendments similar to NOW’s? What is our country waiting for? What’s holding us back is something that the vast majority find to be inherently true: women are not and can not be good leaders. Or at least when compared to men. Which is absurdly unfair because in America women haven’t been able to prove that they are capable of fulfilling the duties of the Commander and Chief.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

However, when we look at other governments around the globe it is clear that women are capable and doing exceptionally well. Chancellor Angela Merkel was Germany’s first female Chancellor. While in office she was able to build a network for European countries called the European Union. Nigeria’s current President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf began her political career campaigning for the impeachment of President Charles Taylor. A man who was found guilty for using Sierra Leone’s diamond deposit to finance the civil war with guns and other arsenal weapons. Later she was elected as the leader of the Unity Party and was elected into the presidential office in 2006 where she used her executive power to extradite Taylor. She became the first black women president in the world and the first black elected head of state. Winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011. South Korea’s first female president Park Guen-hye who has promised a “new era of government” after a the murder of her mother and father. According to Guide to Women Leaders there are a total of 28 female leaders currently in office. Who are using their career to affect nationwide change and prove themselves worthy of such noble positions of power.