Who Runs the World?... Not Women

Female representation in politics leads to numerous benefits, but the vast majority of the world’s most powerful politicians are men. Using the Council on Foreign Relations’ Women’s Power Index tool to track women’s leadership across the globe, this episode examines the problems that arise from a shortage of female leaders.

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Host
  • Gabrielle Sierra
    Director, Podcasting
Credits

Asher Ross - Supervising Producer

Markus Zakaria - Audio Producer and Sound Designer

Molly McAnany - Associate Podcast Producer

Episode Guests
  • Linda Robinson
    Senior Fellow for Women and Foreign Policy
  • Sandra Pepera
    Director for Gender, Women, and Democracy at the National Democratic Institute

Show Notes

The leaders attempting to solve the world’s problems at the United Nations General Assembly this week are almost all men. Even as countries have made efforts to increase gender equity, women remain underrepresented in politics—especially on the global stage. Of 193 UN member countries, just 26 have female heads of state.

 

The Council on Foreign Relations’ Women and Foreign Policy Program finds that increasing women’s leadership confers several benefits. Female leaders run the gamut of political and ethical views, but on aggregate, countries with women’s leadership are more bipartisan, equal, and stable. In spite of those benefits, threats against women in power are increasing. But so too, is women’s representation in politics.

 

A map of women's representation in legislatures by country, showing most countries below 50%

 

From CFR

 

Jamille Bigio and Rachel Vogelstein, “Women Under Attack: The Backlash Against Female Politicians,” Foreign Affairs

 

Ann Norris, “Renewing the Global Architecture for Gender Equality

 

Linda Robinson and Noël James, “Women’s Power Index

 

 

From Our Guests

 

Sandra Pepera, “Why Women in Politics?,” Women Deliver

 

Linda Robinson, “Women in the 118th Congress: Halting Progress, Storm Clouds Ahead,” CFR.org

 

Linda Robinson, “Biden’s Progress on Women’s Rights: Good Start, But Not Fast Enough,” CFR.org


 

Read More

 

Gender, Women and Democracy,” National Democratic Institute

 

Global Gender Gap Report 2023,” World Economic Forum

 

Women Peace and Security Index,” Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security


 

Watch and Listen

 

Small and Mighty!,” UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women

 

Why We Have Too Few Women Leaders,” TED

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