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Women's Leadership

While there have been important advances in women’s leadership in politics, as of November 1 2017, women make up only 7.2% of Heads of State and 6.2% Heads of Government. Data on women representatives in local government, including as mayors, heads of villages and towns, is not well collected and analyzed. The adoption of an SDG indicator on women’s representation in local government is a great step forward in tracking progress on gender balance, allowing for the systematic collection and analysis of data on women in local government. Women’s access to and continued role in leadership positions is challenged by a range of barriers, including discriminatory laws and practices, as well as social norms that prescribe traditional roles and attitudes towards women’s participation in leadership and decision-making roles. Proactive gender-equality policies within political parties and local government structures, including quotas and special temporary measures, gender-sensitive approaches to electoral processes, support networks, mentoring, training, and engagement of male champions, can all help promote women’s role in political leadership. 

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December 9, 2019
Sanna Marin elected Finland’s, and the world’s youngest, Prime Minister

The 34-year-old Ms. Marin will struggle to defend her leftist views against coalition partner, the Centre Party, which wants action to boost Finnish employment to pay for the costly welfare state.

December 6, 2019
Namibia’s first female candidate vows to ‘restore dignity’

Calm and confident, Esther Muinjangue, Namibia’s first woman to run for president, says she feels a “wind of change” softly blowing through the southwest African country which goes to the polls on Wednesday.

Are Americans ready for a female president? Yes. In fact, they might prefer one

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December 6, 2019

Are Americans ready for a female president? Yes. In fact, they might prefer one

’Sit down & shut up’: Why women in politics are quitting at an alarming rate

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December 6, 2019

’Sit down & shut up’: Why women in politics are quitting at an alarming rate

By Vicky Spratt,

"Not now love. We've got bigger fish to fry. We just need to get Brexit done. Okay.

By Vicky Spratt,

"Not now love. We've got bigger fish to fry. We just need to get Brexit done. Okay.

The biggest barrier facing women running for president

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December 6, 2019

The biggest barrier facing women running for president

BY Julie Rodin Zebrak,

As any Democrat knows, black women are the backbone of the party. It’s a ubiquitous fact in virtually all coverage of the 2020 presidential election.

BY Julie Rodin Zebrak,

As any Democrat knows, black women are the backbone of the party. It’s a ubiquitous fact in virtually all coverage of the 2020 presidential election.

December 6, 2019
After weeks of Latin American protests, expect to see more women elected to office

For several weeks, angry Latin Americans have been protesting in the streets. In Bolivia, citizens are protesting allegedly fraudulent election results. In Chile and Ecuador, they’ve been marching and destroying property over economic inequality.

Politicians in the line of fire: Incivility and the treatment of women on social

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December 5, 2019

Politicians in the line of fire: Incivility and the treatment of women on social

A seemingly inescapable feature of the digital age is that people choosing to devote their lives to politics must now be ready to face a barrage of insults and disparaging comments targeted at them through social media.

A seemingly inescapable feature of the digital age is that people choosing to devote their lives to politics must now be ready to face a barrage of insults and disparaging comments targeted at them through social media.