It is funny how anybody speaking of the role of woman in government will automatically speak of all female leaders who have assumed the top office of the nation. What is wrong with the second highest office in the country? What about grassroots levels? Women can play an equal role in governance of the nation and the world only when they have equal stakes in local government. If they merely form the top layer of a male dominated government, there is very little that they can achieve in terms of gender equality.
Of course, past female leaders have always been very tough when it came to crisis and emergencies. Indira Gandhi, Margaret Thatcher, Golda Meir – there have been numerous instances where female leaders prove themselves up to the task of conducting warfare or seeking political annihilation of their opponents.
Despite this, the role of woman in the world continues to be nothing more than a second grade citizen. They are often the first to be targeted in any conflict or dispute. They are said to be the repository of all good things and any person spoiling a woman can automatically claim to have spoiled the entire family or clan. Such a mindset is present in major parts of the world today.
It is clear that presence of woman at the top is not going to automatically solve all these issues. However, there is no denying that women can enter the grass root only when they prove themselves again and again on the top. The top office of any country is ultimate proof of ability to rule. The fact that a woman is occupying the same is going to have a huge impact on the psyche and self belief of women.
Occupying top offices may not mean women are now equal in governance but there is no denying that their presence makes a huge difference.