Women Rule: Shattering the Executive Glass Ceiling

Abstract

When we inaugurate a President of the United States we give a man the powers of our highest office." Richard Neustadt, preface to the first edition of Presidential Power and the Modern Presidents, 1960Using qualitative and quantitative techniques, this article compares nearly all cases of women presidents and prime ministers in power between 1960 through 2007. In a comparative gender analysis, I focus on the impact of institutional and structural factors on the ways in which women acquire their positions and on the type of executive authority exercised. Women are more likely to enter office when their powers are relatively few and constrained. The political systems in which they lead generally feature fragmented executive power arrangements, including a dual executive structure. Women also enter in politically unstable contexts and in countries lacking political institutionalization, frequently as members of privileged groups. Findings indicate that comparative politics research needs to explore the gendered connections between executive positions and authority, power, and independence.I would like to sincerely thank the anonymous reviewers and editors for their guidance in preparing this article for publication. Their help has been invaluable.

Los efectos de las reglas electorales sobre el éxito de las mujeres en las elecciones presidenciales en América Latina

“…Los estudios a nivel global acerca de la elección de las mujeres presidentas han acentuado el papel de las relaciones de parentesco con los expresidentes y otros polí-ticos destacados (Jalalzai 2008). Las mujeres que llegaron a la presidencia entraron en política o siendo jóvenes, poco a poco consolidando su carrera política, o en una edad mayor sin mucha experiencia política, como viudas o hijas de líderes importantes fallecidos o destituidos, llegando al poder a causa del acontecimiento trágico (Watson et al 2005: 66).…”

“…El único análisis comparado de las causas del éxito de las mujeres presidentas a nivel global acentúa el bajo nivel de institucionalización política y la predominante personalización de la política, como las causas principales de su éxito (Jalalzai 2008). En la comparación global, las mujeres consiguen ese cargo más a menudo en países inestables, que carecen de institucionalización política y cuando pertenecen a grupos socialmente privilegiados (Jalalzai 2008: 207).…”

Madam President: Gender, Power, and the Comparative Presidency

“…Women are more likely to serve in parliamentary systems than presidential and are more often prime ministers than presidents (Jalalzai 2008). Women have greater success as prime ministers because women in those roles are able to bypass a potentially sexist public, have less political autonomy, and women are more able to collaborate than dominate in a political system (Jalalzai 2008). These explanations are thoroughly dissected subsequently, particularly in relation to gender norms.…”

“…While women have had less success in obtaining presidential posts than prime ministerial office (Jalalzai 2008), there have been recent notable gains in women presidents in a variety of geographical areas, levels of development, and cultures. In exploring these cases, it is particularly important to examine paths to leadership, types of presidential positions, and presidential powers in relation to gender.…”

Mujeres en órganos de gobierno universitarios. Nuevo contexto normativo y políticas de igualdad

“…En la vida universitaria, la mujer se enfrenta tanto a lastres "convencionales", estrechamente vinculados a factores culturales y sociales (techos de cristal y de cemento) (Morrison et al, 1987;Eisenmann, 2003;Probert, 2005;Arreman y Weiner, 2007;Gisbert, 2007;Jalalzai, 2008), como a lastres estructurales, derivados de su tardía incorporación a la vida profesional y educativa. Se podría decir, pues, que no es su condición femenina el impedimento para ejercer, sino, más bien, un condicionante para que aún no todas alcancen hacerlo (Lovell, 2006).…”