Madame President: It's common elsewhere in the world; why not here?
Indira Gandhi (India), Golda Meir (Israel), Margaret Thatcher (UK), Mary Robinson (Ireland), Kim Campbell (Canada), Helen Clark (New Zealand), Angela Merkel (Germany), Portia Simpson-Miller (Jamaica), Han Myeong-sook (South Korea), Kamla Persad-Bissessar (Trinidad and Tobago), are just some of the women who have led the governments of over 76 countries in every corner of the world for the past half-a-century. Several countries including Switzerland, India, and the United Kingdom have elected women to the top position multiple times. Meanwhile, in the US, we wonder whether a woman is electable or qualified to be the next president of the United States.
The answer is of course yes! Women are the majority of U.S. population, and make up the majority of college students. About 30 percent of the U.S. colleges and universities are led by women. Women have been Supreme Court Justices and have served in both houses of the United States Congress. And yet, we still question whether women can lead or whether they are electable. In the corporate world, unfortunately, less than 5 percent of the CEOs of Fortune 500 companies are women and their numbers still lag in corporate boards. By some estimates, at this pace, it might take 200 years to achieve gender parity in corporate leadership.
During the 2016 presidential elections, one of the most experienced and qualified candidates ever to run for president received 65 million votes, 3 million more than her opponent, who won as a result of the Electoral College. In the history of our presidential elections, only two candidates, Secretary Clinton and President Obama (twice) have received 65 million or more votes. In the 2018 elections, women candidates dominated across the nation, once more proving that women are electable, partially supported by women voters.
So far, in this round for the 2020 Presidential election, four of the women candidates are U.S. senators, all elected because of having impressive resumes that include sponsoring successful legislation, being a Rhodes Scholar, having law degrees from prestigious universities, writing a dozen books, serving as state attorneys general or having other outstanding experiences in public leadership. Let's not forget that if for any reason the current president and vice-president are unable to continue their terms, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi will become president. She is, arguably, one of the most experienced and able legislators in the history of the House of Representatives. Yes, she is qualified to be president, and she has been elected multiple times - therefore clearly electable.
As far as whether a president who happens to be a woman will be successful or effective, the answer can be found in all other areas and countries where women have taken up leadership roles. Just like all leaders, some succeed and some fail. Circumstances and the context play a more significant role than gender. For instance, it is hard to see how any UK prime minister, woman or man, could succeed in implementing Brexit, when the country is so divided and the parties have no clear strategy for post-Brexit.
Once in office, intelligent and thoughtful presidents who have a clear vision surround themselves with experienced and dedicated staff, listen to good advice, get swayed by facts and work across the aisle with the other party have a chance of being successful and effective. We have had 45 male presidents; some have succeeded and some have not. It is time to elect a president who represents more than half of our population. At least four of the women currently in the race have impressive agendas, established records and strong vision that are far above many others and are proven to be electable and effective. They more than deserve and have earned the right to be given the same chance as the other candidates.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, in a public forum at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University in 2016, responding to a young college student's question about how many women should be on the Supreme Court, stated without hesitation: "Nine, of course!" Let's elect the first Madam President in 2020, break this glass ceiling and then maybe the gender of the candidates for any office will not matter as much.
Dr. Ali Malekzadeh is president of Roosevelt University in Chicago, with a campus in Schaumburg. Dr. Afsaneh Nahavandi is professor of management and leadership, University of San Diego.