I was astonished to find out women’s suffrage is a fairly recent development. Can you believe women were not allowed to vote in most of the western world until the late 19th century. Women’s suffrage has a checkered history, but for practical purposes it became reality in the US with the passage of the 19th amendment in 1920 and with the passage of the universal suffrage act in the UK in 1928. (check wikipedia for details)
With that background it should not come as a surprise that US hasn’t had a woman head of the state yet. I think the US needs to outsource this goal and I would like to pitch the credentials of nations from my part of the world.
India: Of course India leads in anything that even rhymes with outsourcing so let’s look at India’s record. Mrs. Indira Gandhi served as the Prime Minister of India from 1966-1977 and then from 1980-1984. A total of 16 years in a country with an independent history of just about 60 years. Moreover an Italian born and brought up woman Edvige Antonia Albina Maino came close to be sworn as the Prime Minister of India in May 2004, she chose not to take that position (I am going to give her the benefit of doubt) to avoid a costly schism based on ideology. That did not stop Forbes to name her as the most powerful woman in the world in 2004.
Sri-Lanka: If an example of a war-ravaged nation being led by a woman is sought, Chandrika Kumaratunga Bandaranaike, President of Sri-Lanka comes to mind. She led Sri-Lanka from 1994-2005 and led the nation’s fight against the LTTE.
Pakistan: Even Pakistan which has been struggling to have a working democracy has fared better. Benazir Bhutto was the Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1998-1990 and again from 1993-1996. Be reminded, if corruption is a requirement, Benazir probably (can’t say for sure since no concrete evidence was presented) fared just as well as her male counterparts. She was ousted on charges of corruption.
Bangladesh: Think twice before you ridicule the supposedly draconian societies found in some of the Islamic nations. Bangladesh might not be able to match the US in GDP but on this front they win hands down; Sheikh Hasina Wajed was the Prime Minister of Bangladesh from 1996-2001.
So there you have it take your pick, and learn your lesson. Considering the best America has been able to do with more than 200yrs of independence (Hillary Clinton); in my opinion the only way forward is to have a special provision (like the recent nuclear deal) for India, there by allowing an Indian woman to be the President of USA. Case in point, Indra Nooyi CEO Pepsi Co.
