Cracked Ceilings, Shakier Ground: The Paradox of Women’s Leadership in Western Democracy

As of March, 13 of the 193 member states of the United Nations are led by a woman as head of state – a figure that, while still low, is gradually increasing. At first glance, it suggests a world moving, albeit slowly, toward gender equality. But if one looks more closely at the timing, the picture shifts. Women are frequently elevated when parties are fractured, when electoral prospects are dim, and when governing crises have already taken hold. … Continue readingCracked Ceilings, Shakier Ground: The Paradox of Women’s Leadership in Western Democracy