Claudia Sheinbaum: A milestone in the fight for political gender equality

With the recent news of Claudia Sheinbaum's electoral victory that will make her the first female president of Mexico starting on October 1st, an interesting debate opens up about the role of women in political power worldwide. Despite advancements in terms of gender equality in different areas, women's access to the highest government positions remains a rarity in many countries. In Latin America, a region known for having a higher female representation in its congresses, only seven women have been elected as presidents so far. However, the support of popular political parties, as in the cases of Dilma Rousseff in Brazil, Michelle Bachelet in Chile, and Laura Chinchilla in Costa Rica, has been crucial for these women to reach power. On a global scale, the presence of women in the highest government positions is still limited. According to UN Women data, as of 2014, only 28 out of 193 countries had a woman as head of state or government. This panorama reflects the persistence of gender inequalities in political decision-making spaces. Regarding the governance of governments led by women, there are examples of leadership in promoting gender equality issues and women's rights. Michelle Bachelet in Chile and Angela Merkel in Germany are examples of leaders who have driven significant reforms in gender equality, education, and childcare, among others. Jacinda Ardern, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, stood out for her empathetic and decisive leadership during critical moments such as the 2019 terrorist attack in Christchurch. Her inclusive leadership style and ability to connect with citizens made her an international reference. On the other hand, figures like Margaret Thatcher in the United Kingdom demonstrated that women can also have a significant impact on managing the economy and foreign policy, even though their leadership style has been controversial. In this sense, it is important to highlight that the path towards gender equality in the highest government positions is still long. Despite advancements, women's representation in political decision-making remains limited in many countries, reflecting the persistence of gender barriers and stereotypes in the political realm. In conclusion, Claudia Sheinbaum's victory in Mexico represents a historic milestone in the country's politics and a step towards gender equality in the political sphere. However, it is necessary to continue working to eliminate barriers that prevent women from full access to power and ensure equitable representation in political decision-making at a global level.