View Full Version : Female president
thegoddessasheni
Mar 23, 2006, 01:17 PM
How come we never have a girl for a president?
DrJ
Mar 23, 2006, 01:51 PM
Im not going to touch this one with a 10 foot pole! Lol
phillysteakandcheese
Mar 23, 2006, 02:15 PM
Girl - this model doesn't come ready to be the leader of a nation. Sort of like our Boy model over here...
The model your looking for is called Woman - And this model would make a great leader, it's just that this model still hasn't had enough exposure yet as a high quality leader... most people are still accustomed to our other model, Man.
:)
Really though - It's only a matter of time before there is a female president. As women are seen in leadership roles (particularily in business), US society will become more accepting of voting a female president into office.
DrJ
Mar 23, 2006, 03:35 PM
Good answer... Im impressed that we actually got a good answer here before some joke about going to war with someone one week out of every month! Lol
kp2171
Mar 23, 2006, 04:06 PM
Recent thread about female governors
https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?p=103698#post103698
I linked an article that talked about the number of female governors. Basically said prior to '98 there had been about 15 women at the top state executive position.
This is important because the governorship is seen as a position that may translate well to the demands of the presidents office. I'm not saying it does or doesn't, but it is an obvious position to look at concerning potential candidates.
Look at recent history... how many presidents were govs and of those that were not were they simply the VP's from the prior administration?
GW Bush - gov
Clinton - gov
GHW Bush - VP
Reagan - gov
Carter - gov
Ford - VP
Nixon - VP (Eisenhower)
Kennedy - senate
So we have to go back to kennedy (1961) to find someone who wasn't a governor or already in the office as VP of a previous administration.
So... there's no reason a woman cannot be in the executive office. But recent history seems to suggest that more women in the governorship and VP position could help increase the possibility of that eventual reality.
orange
Mar 23, 2006, 05:16 PM
It's a really thought-provoking question, though... when countries like India and Pakistan, which are supposedly so anti-woman, have had female leaders years ago already, and the United States still hasn't, it really makes one wonder.
Canada isn't much better. We've had one female prime minister, but she wasn't exactly elected. She took over the position when her successor retired I believe, and she wasn't re-elected.
NeedKarma
Mar 23, 2006, 05:43 PM
Simple answer - no one has wanted the job.
fredg
Mar 24, 2006, 08:19 AM
Hi,
You have some good answers so far.
Hillary Clinton wants the job; just wait and see.
We haven't had a Woman President, because as yet, no one who picks candidates for the parties believes a Woman could win. They aren't going to pick someone, unless they know they have a chance.
In America, men voted much sooner that women were allowed to. Later, women won the right to vote. Customs in every country are somewhat different. In America, this custom of accepting both men and women in politics is changing, with new generations. It will happen, and a women will be president sometime. Hillary Clinton is the first in many years with a chance of being nominated from the Democratic Party. Not saying I'm for or against her, just saying her name will definitely keep coming up. Best wishes.
kp2171
Mar 24, 2006, 08:25 AM
Simple answer - no one has wanted the job.
I don't agree with this statement.
Victoria Woodhull would've also found fault. Testified before Congress on suffrage, first female Wall Street broker, first woman to organize a political party, first woman candidate for president of the United States, 1872.
Pat Schroeder (D-Colo) traveled around the country for much of 1987 before deciding she couldn't raise enough money to be a serious player.
You need political backing and money to make a legitimate push...
kp2171
Mar 24, 2006, 08:43 AM
https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=23257
As mentioned in the other link, at least 9 female gov's since 89. Only around 15 in the entire time before that, with 3 not elected but serving as surrogates. So there is a trend of women making progress into political positions that are a springboards for a run at the top office.
colbtech
Mar 24, 2006, 09:03 AM
Golda meir, indira Gandhi, margaret thatcher.
All good leaders, maybe the USA need a good woman to break into the boys club! Let's face it, she won't do any worse than some of the more recent office holders.
orange
Mar 24, 2006, 11:17 AM
Good answer.... Im impressed that we actually got a good answer here before some joke about going to war with someone one week out of every month! lol
I'm glad there was no joke like that either. I don't appreciate jokes about premenstrual dysphoric disorder. It's a very real condition; some women have to take psychiatric drugs and/or hormone therapies just have a somewhat normal life. Although I don't have it that badly myself, I do have a problem with my cycle (called endometriosis) which causes me to have severe pain every month. I have even been on morphine for the pain... it's one of the few drugs that work actually. At age 26 I have seriously considered having a hysterectomy just to alleviate the suffering.
It's attitudes like this that actually prevent women from taking leadership roles. I was watching a foreign film made in Afganistan the other night, about a young woman who wanted to be the president of Afganistan. Funny, the same "joke" that you mentioned was used by some Afghani men in the film.
Besides that, the whole going to war part of the joke doesn't matter anyway, because the United States has been at war for 3 years anyhow! And there's not a woman in charge.
fredg
Mar 24, 2006, 03:01 PM
Hi,
I do hope either the Democratic or the Republican Party will nominate a women for President for the next Presidential election. It's getting time.
CaptainForest
Mar 24, 2006, 08:00 PM
Prince Edward Island elected Canada’s first female Premier in 1993.
While there had been other female Premiers in other provinces before that, none of them were elected (kind of like PM Kim Campbell)
orange
Mar 26, 2006, 11:12 AM
Oh that's interesting about PEI... I wasn't aware of that. What party did she belong to? We also had a female leader of the NDP Party for a while too, but the NDP don't have much of a chance of being elected federally. It is encouraging though to see more women running as MPs. We have quite a few around here, from all different political parties, who have been very successful. One woman, who is Conservative, has won in her riding at least twice already, and she's very well respected here.
I have thought about running myself in the future, when the children are older and don't need me so much. However, I'm more interested in running as a school board trustee, for city council, or as an MLA, rather than federally.
Fr_Chuck
Mar 26, 2006, 11:33 AM
Of course in the US, women were not even allowed to vote for many years, so they were not involved in the political process for the entire time of our nation.
Since then it has been a slow growth.
Sadly most of the possible canidates on either dem or repub parties are too right or two left. There is not a good middle of the road canidate that could really draw the american public.
Also with the dirty fighting of the elections, any and all of their past will be found or made up if nothing is found, so many will not want to put theirself though that either
CaptainForest
Mar 26, 2006, 01:50 PM
Oh that's interesting about PEI... I wasn't aware of that. What party did she belong to? We also had a female leader of the NDP Party for a while too, but the NDP don't have much of a chance of being elected federally. It is encouraging though to see more women running as MPs. We have quite a few around here, from all different political parties, who have been very successful. One woman, who is Conservative, has won in her riding at least twice already, and she's very well respected here.
I have thought about running myself in the future, when the children are older and don't need me so much. However, I'm more interested in running as a school board trustee, for city council, or as an MLA, rather than federally.
Catherine Callbeck - PEI Premier 1993-1996, LIBERAL all the way (she also served 1 term federally as a Liberal in 88)
Running as an MLA would be cool...
Running federally would mean you have to be away from your family. My MP has a whole family here and she spends most of her time in Ottawa... I don't know how I could ever do that...
orange
Mar 26, 2006, 05:06 PM
Growing up, one of my friend's dads was an MP. The family owned 2 houses: one here and one in Ottawa. The kids went to Ottawa a lot for visits, etc. At the time I thought it sounded kind of cool, but you're right... it must be hard on the family in general.
Starman
Apr 6, 2006, 05:42 PM
It is rather strange that men should seem to hold a monopoly on the presidency in the USA. Especially when countries where the men are supposed to be too macho-minded to let women lead have had women presidents.
Mireya Moscoso Panama President September 1, 1999-September 1, 2004
Michelle Bachelet Chile President March 11, 2006-incumbent
Violeta Chamorro Nicaragua President April 25, 1990-January 10, 1997
Isabel Martínez de Perón Argentina President July 1, 1974-March 24, 1976
Lidia Gueiler Bolivia Interim President November 17, 1979-July 18, 1980
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_Presidents
BTW
Sila María Calderón Serra (born September 23, 1942) was the seventh Democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico from 2001 to 2005.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sila_Mar%C3%ADa_Calder%C3%B3n
CaptainForest
Apr 6, 2006, 06:29 PM
It is rather strange that men should seem to hold a monopoly on the presidency in the USA. Especially when countries where the men are supposed to be too macho-minded to let women lead have had women presidents.
Mireya Moscoso Panama President September 1, 1999-September 1, 2004
Michelle Bachelet Chile President March 11, 2006-incumbent
Violeta Chamorro Nicaragua President April 25, 1990-January 10, 1997
Isabel Martínez de Perón Argentina President July 1, 1974-March 24, 1976
Lidia Gueiler Bolivia Interim President November 17, 1979-July 18, 1980
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_Presidents
BTW
Sila María Calderón Serra (born September 23, 1942) was the seventh Democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico from 2001 to 2005.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sila_Mar%C3%ADa_Calder%C3%B3n
Don't go forgetting Candian Prime Minister Kim Campbell from June 25, 1993 - November 4, 1993.
And, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher from May 4, 1979 - November 28, 1990.
Starman
Apr 7, 2006, 07:05 AM
The closest one that has come to being successful in the USA if she runs for president is Hillary Clinton. She seems to have the intellectual ability and emotional stability, to handle the job well. But ironically, she seems not interested in the position. About women not being qualified simply because they are women, I don't by that. People have to be evaluated on an individual basis and not simply because they might belong to a group, be it race, religion, or gender.
In my opinion
orange
Apr 7, 2006, 12:41 PM
Hilary Clinton isn't interested in running? Someone else in this thread (I think it was Fredg) said she was interested. Which is it? Er, now I'm confused...
Anyway that's too bad if she's not interested, I think she would definitely be a good candidate. And I agree, each person needs to be evaluated individually and not by their gender or other things.
CaptainForest
Apr 7, 2006, 01:16 PM
From what I gather from watching CNN (ahh, who am I kidding... Jon Stewart :p), Hilary Clinton is giving mis-messages. I think she is still testing the waters before committing.
Kind of like how Belinda Stronach just spent $30,000 to test the waters to see if she should make a bid to replace Martin. And she chose not to :( I wanted her to take over.
geraldo2
Apr 25, 2007, 09:08 PM
I for one think america isn't ready for a female president. I'm not anti-woman but the u.s. is the strongest country in the world and I don't tink women can handle problems like terrorism very well(too emotional).
gazelleintense
May 3, 2007, 06:35 PM
How come we never have a girl for a president?
A few have ran... they lost. Didn't get the vote. Thank God
Starman
May 4, 2007, 09:09 AM
How come we never have a girl for a president?
Well you had Indira Gandhi in India, Margarrette Thatcher in Great Brittain, Evita Peron in Argentina, Nicaragua had a female president recently and Puerto Rico a female governess--the latter three countries which are supposedly machista in culture. So why not in the USA? Very possibly because the USA male population has been too machista to allow it all these years and is only now coming around to the realization that women can govern as well or even better than men in some cases. In my opinion
The site below has a list of women presidents and prime ministers:
Women Prime Ministers and Presidents: 20th Century (http://clk.about.com/?zi=18/1R4/Wa&sdn=womenshistory&cdn=education&tm=334&gps=280_8_783_446&f=00&tt=14&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//womenshistory.about.com/od/rulers20th/a/women_heads.htm)
inthebox
May 4, 2007, 02:14 PM
Others have posted legitimite reasons for this : electability, finances, etc.
Just because there have been female leaders of OTHER countries does not mean the US HAS TO HAVE a female president now or ever.
We have to have the best PERSON: regardless of gender, religion, race etc. run for president and let the voters/ electoral college decide. If that happens to be a woman, so be it.
Starman
May 6, 2007, 09:14 PM
Others have posted legitimite reasons for this : electability, finances, etc.
Just because there have been female leaders of OTHER countries does not mean the US HAS TO HAVE a female president now or ever.
We have to have the best PERSON: regardless of gender, religion, race etc., run for president and let the voters/ electoral college decide. If that happens to be a woman, so be it.
Unfortunately presidential electability is too often influenced negatively by the candidate's gender in this country just as electability is affected by a candidate's ethnicity and race. Whenever the issue of whether a female is qualified or not comes up it isn't her intellectual readiness that's the issue in the USA it's here sex! That gender issue isn't as importannt in other countries--ever wonder why? Hard pill to swallow but that's the truth.
BTW
I didn't say what you are claiming I said about voting for a female just because other countries have. That's entirely YOUR irrational idea--not mine.
Starman
May 6, 2007, 09:34 PM
i for one think america isn't ready for a female president. i'm not anti-woman but the u.s. is the strongest country in the world and i don't tink women can handle problems like terrorism very well(too emotional).
Right! Just look how Margarrete Thattcher fell apart during the Falkland Island's conflict
And how the queen of England had a nervous breakdown when she heard that the Spanish Armada was coming.
inthebox
May 7, 2007, 07:52 PM
Unfortunately presidential electability is too often influenced negatively by the candidate's gender in this country just as electability is affected by a candidate's ethnicity and race. Whenever the issue of whether a female is qualified or not comes up it isn't her intellectual readiness that's the issue in the USA it's here sex! That gender issue isn't as importannt in other countries--ever wonder why? Hard pill to swallow but that's the truth.
BTW
I didn't say what you are claiming I said about voting for a female just because other countries have. That's entirely YOUR irrational idea--not mine.
Gender and race are an issue that depends on how each INDIVIDUAL voter perceives it.
To me it does not matter. To others it is a big deal. Thus some on this thread have pointed out other female heads of state. It seems the general MEDIA MAKES IT AN ISSUE, when in fact, where a candidate stands on various issues, leadership ability, prior accomplishments, intelligence, integrity and character SHOULD be what matters most.
It is completely idiotic to vote for a candidate primarily because they are a female or male, black or white. Why bring up Margaret Thatcher or Indira Gandhi et al.
#1 They were from different countries - it has no bearing on the US
#2 Hilary is no Margaret Thatcher , and to assume so because they are the same gender
Is comparable to assuming I will be the next Michael Jordan because I am male.
Starman
May 8, 2007, 09:57 AM
Gender and race are an issue that depends on how each INDIVIDUAL voter perceives it.
To me it does not matter. To others it is a big deal. Thus some on this thread have pointed out other female heads of state. It seems the general MEDIA MAKES IT AN ISSUE, when in fact, where a candidate stands on various issues, leadership ability, prior accomplishments, intelligence, integrity and character SHOULD be what matters most.
It is completely idiotic to vote for a candidate primarily because they are a female or male, black or white. Why bring up Margaret Thatcher or Indira Ghandi et al. ?
#1 They were from different countries - it has no bearing on the US
#2 Hilary is no Margaret Thatcher , and to assume so because they are the same gender
is comparable to assuming I will be the next Michael Jordan because I am male.
Do you really believe that I am saying that all women are like Margaret Thatcher because they are all female? That kind of thinking would require mental retardation.
Why did I bring Margaret Thatcher and Indira Gahndi up? Because I was responding to a person who claimed that women are too emotional to govern a nation. Since he made a generalization concerning women I offered two exceptions to his rule. That's a standard argumentation method--exceptions to the idiotic rules people make in order to show them just how ridiculous their generalizations are.
BTW
Their being from different countries doesn't disqualify these two women as excellent examples for refutation purposes since the person's generalization was referring to all women regardless of race, ethnic membership, or nationality.
Why you would want to restrict my choices is beyond me!
tomder55
May 14, 2007, 12:05 PM
We will eventually once the right one runs. Currently we do not have a woman in the field worthy of being President .:D
But seriously ;it is only in the last 10-15 years that we have had women in prominent positions in the Executive Branch .
Here is an interesting timeline to see how far women have come in a relatively short time.
1872 Victoria Claflin Woodhull becomes the first woman presidential candidate in the United States when she is nominated by the National Radical Reformers. She had no chance of winning . Women had not even been granted suffrage yet.
1916 Jeannette Rankin, of Montana, is the first woman to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
1922 Rebecca Felton, of Georgia, is appointed to the U.S. Senate to fill a temporary vacancy. The first woman senator, she serves for only two days.
1925 Nellie Tayloe Ross becomes the first woman to serve as governor of a state, in Wyoming. In the fall of 1924 she was elected to succeed her deceased husband, William Bradford Ross.
1932 Hattie Wyatt Caraway, of Arkansas, becomes the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate.
1933 Frances Perkins is appointed secretary of labor by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, making her the first woman member of a presidential cabinet.
1960 Oveta Culp Hobby becomes the first woman to serve as Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. She is also the first director of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC), and the first woman to receive the U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal.
1981 Sandra Day O'Connor is appointed by President Reagan to the Supreme Court, making her its first woman justice.
1984 Geraldine Ferraro is the first woman to run for vice-president on a major party ticket.
1993 Janet Reno becomes the first woman U.S. attorney general.
1997 Madeleine Albright is sworn in as U.S. secretary of state. She is the first woman in this position as well as the highest-ranking woman in the United States government.
2005 Condoleezza Rice becomes the first African-American female Secretary of State.
America is ready for the right first Female President .But I emphasis ;it is critical that she gets elected for her qualifications and not just because of her gender.
nicespringgirl
Jul 18, 2007, 12:24 PM
Whoever is qualified for the position, doesn't matter gender or race! Popularity helps a lot, so does the person's character,contribution and capability.
I was elected as a female Vice President of a 20,000 student university in the US.
Give it a try if you really want to do something or make a change to better students' life at school!