Florine Roche

Aug 14: Is the US finally catching up with our neighbouring country Sri Lanka? The answer is a sure yes considering that Hillary Clinton has become the first woman nominated by a major party in US for presidency. So what is there to catch up with Sri Lanka? Historically, power has always been considered as male prerogative and powerful positions have always been held by men be it in developed or developing countries. However, the tiny island nation made history when it elected Sirimavo Bandarnaike in 1960 to become the world’s first female prime minister. By doing so Sri Lanka did the unthinkable and gave a big jolt to western countries which were said to be very liberal or were in the forefront in terms of having gender equality. Since then many other countries including Asian countries like India, Bangladesh and Pakistan have followed Sri Lanka in this direction. Great Britain, Israel, Canada, Ireland, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and in many other countries women have been at the helm of power after they followed in the footsteps of Bandaranaike. Some of these leaders have left an ineffaceable mark signifying that they are in no way inferior to men.

But the most powerful nation of the world both as the biggest economic and military superpower – the United States of America has been a notable exception among western countries wherein the top most power centre has always been a male. Now Hillary Clinton is all set to break that misogynist tradition and is all set to become the first ever woman president of USA. So, finally Americans have accepted that their country is ready for its very first female president. Of course, in order to catch up with Sri Lanka or other Asian countries for that matter Hillary will have to cross the final hurdle in the form of her rival from the Republican Party Donald Trump when America goes to the poll to vote for a new President on November 8, 2016. As things stand today the trajectory for her final victory looks smooth and certain.

Hillary Creates History

While her win will be an historic first, even clinching the nomination of the Democratic Party is a major momentous and unprecedented achievement as it brings Hillary Clinton within reach of getting elected as American President. It has taken 240 years for America and 56 presidential elections to create history and allow a woman to vie for the top and tough job of the President of United States of America.

It is not just America but the entire world is on the threshold of being led by women. Hillary will soon join other powerful women heads of governments like Theresa May of England and Angela Merkel of Germany as global leaders of powerful nations in terms of richest economies and in terms of top military powers. Therefore it can be said that women empowerment at the global level has reached its summit. Hillary’s win will make way for women to lead world powers like the US, Britain and Germany at the same time. The year 2016 will therefore go down as the most defining moment as far as women’s empowerment at the global level is concerned. Female politicians are all set to become global power brokers for the first time.

But that is not all. Christine Madeleine Odette Lagarde became the first woman to head the International Monetary Fund in 2011 and still continues in that post. There is also the likelihood of the top job of United Nations might go to a female for the first time in the 70 years history of United Nations. The post of the present Secretary General Ban Ki Moon is to end by December 2016 and former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clerk is said to be one of the leading contenders for this post along with five other female leaders. There has been no female secretary general of UN so far and having realised this a group of nations was campaigning saying the time is ripe for UN to give the mantle to a female. But Helen’s hopes have come crushing down as she is not even among the top five in the second secret ballot conducted just yesterday to elect the next Secretary General. However, the 15 member Security Council will conduct an informal closed door secret ballot procedure till they reach on a consensus candidate and that means there is still hope for Helen Clerk.

As per the information available currently the world has a record high number of 22 female leaders which is said to be a record. In the past few years countries like Taiwan, Croatia, Lithuania and Nepal have opted for female leaders at the helm. But even then it is an abysmally low percentage because today we are talking about a level playing field and women have proved their mettle in every facet of life be it politics, economy, academics business, science, technology, sports or any other field. Britain’s first female Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher who ruled Britain for over a decade was known as the “Iron Lady”, a term which is often used to describe women who are strong. There was Golda Meir who led Israel during its tough peace and war time period. Our own iron lady late Indira Gandhi ruled India with an iron grip so much so Congress leader Dev Kant Barooha coined the now infamous “India is Indira and Indira is India” phrase.

Taking the Challenge Head-on

Come November and then all eyes will be on Hillary, May and Merkel who will head the most powerful and influential democracies of the world. There are apprehensions as to whether these female leaders will make way for more women in politics in their respective countries. When Margaret Thatcher was at the helm she had appointed only one woman to the cabinet. Angela Merkel is believed to be much better as compared to Thatcher. Much is expected from Theresa May who might do much better as compared to Thatcher and Merkel in this respect. Far reaching implications are expected from this group of female leadership to make welfare and concerns of women as an essential part of global policymaking.

But more than giving better representation or ensuring welfare of women globally these female leaders are expected to clean up the political, economic and environmental mess created and left behind by the men. For May the major task on hand is to sail the country through the Brexit chaos and the terror attacks that have come to grip the country. Unfortunately, all the men have opted for a safe exit at a critical juncture showing no concern for the turmoil Britain is passing through. Global terrorism and racial discrimination is something common to America and European countries and these female leaders will also have to handle the pressing problem of global terrorism manifesting in its ugliest form in Europe and many other parts.

It is said that women who are known for team work will be able to get better results when they team up professionally because that gives them greater confidence, more flexibility and a sense of accountability. Let us hope gender does not come in the way of their performance and they will be able to lead the world with political sagacity and shrewd manoeuvring if that helps bring about a marked change in the global political scenario, but time will tell how good a job they do.

That's the important thing, how good will they do?