Women In Politics Are There Or Not There For A Reason

By Elnora Huckins

Throughout the current literature on women in politics writers bewail the fact that there are fewer females in positions of power than there are men. This problem could easily be solved by splitting up an electorate by gender and allowing voting on that basis. However the same people who wish for greater female representation would not want that either. Apparently they want to ensure that political aims are achieved through free and fair gender free elections.

Even in China where there has supposedly been equality between the sexes since the days of Madam Mao it appears that plans are afoot to ensure that equal gender numbers are voted into office in free and fair elections.

The fact that there are considerably fewer females than men in power positions could conceivably be due to the fact that fewer put themselves forward for election. Those who do compete seem to stand very good chances of success.

One very obvious trait of successful females in politics is that they appear not to be biased towards their own gender. Julia Gillard seemingly did not single out girls for special condolences after flood damage in Australia. Hilary Clinton did not play the gender card in her battle to become president of the United States. She earned respect by fighting on issues that were not gender specific. When Helen Ziller was elected as premier of a South African province she chose an all male cabinet and was immediately accused of sexism because she refused to appoint a token cabinet member on gender grounds.

Activists are prone to expressing the view that the world will be a better place when there are more women in power. They foresee a changed political landscape where politicians will adopt as their political slogan, 'politics with feminine characteristics'. History does not support this view. Boudica personally hacked off heads, Golda Meir was behind the raid on Entebbe airport and Mrs Thatcher sent battle ships off to the Falkland Islands faster than one could say 'Argentina'

It remains a mystery why fewer females put themselves forward for politics than men even though they tend to be so successful at it. Machiavelli once remarked that one cannot be loved and feared when in power. Perhaps women in politics prefer to be loved rather than feared when the choice arises

About the Author:

Grow your own food indoors with LED Grow Lights. Also, check out cannabis grow lights.