Achievements of Women in Politics: A Global Perspective

Introduction

The achievement of women in politics has led to a transformation that reverberates in their external sphere of influence globally. They have achieved milestones through activism and advocacy movements, including the women’s suffrage movement, such as occupying political positions and liberating others to access their voting rights. Women have secured a chance to represent citizens in leadership positions worldwide. Their political achievements include calling for affirmative action for their leadership inclusion in Rwanda and the massive representation of women in the South African Development Community (SADC). The achievement of voting rights by the women’s suffrage movement in the United States, Rwanda’s affirmative actions for inclusion and significant representation of 64% in parliament in 2013, and the highest worldwide representation in SADC politics showcase their political achievement globally.

Activism and Advocacy

The women’s suffrage movement’s achievement of voting rights in United States politics showcases the indomitable change spirit embodied among them globally and their significant strides in politics. For example, the American Women Suffrage Association (WSA) pushed for women’s voting rights through activism and advocacy (Organization of American Historians 668). In 1919, after the passing of the Nineteenth Amendment, they gained their right to vote in the country, empowering them to shape leadership policies, which spearheaded a revolution for participation in politics globally. Therefore, through the women’s suffrage movement, they achieved their right to vote, a milestone that was then realized by the whole world.

Achievements of Women in Politics: A Global Perspective

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Affirmative Action and Quota Policies

Women have also achieved affirmative actions and quotas policies, which has amplified their political involvement in societal issues. For example, Rwanda’s women secured 64% of parliament seats and the country’s decision-making organs in 2013 (Watkins and Jessee 85). The accomplishment allowed them to shape policies related to the country’s development, and other African countries, such as Congo and Zimbabwe, adopted the approach, reflecting a worldwide commitment to reducing gender inequalities in the political realm. Therefore, women have increased their participation in affirmative action and quota policies globally, especially in developing countries.

Political Participation

Women’s political achievements are reflected in their increased political participation, especially in developing countries, such as South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Malawi. For example, in the SADC region, coalition countries have achieved 30% representation of women in their parliaments even though the target is 50%, a great improvement from the 20^th century (Mlambo and Kapingura 3). In this case, the current levels of women’s guarantee of political seats make the SADC region lead in the proportion of political seats held by women globally. Therefore, the high population of women with active positions in the SADC region shows their global participation and achievement of eliminating gender inequality in politics.

Conclusion

The achievement of women in politics has been a continuous process facilitated by activism, advocacy, and affirmative action in several countries and organizations. They achieved their voting rights in the United States through the women’s suffrage movement, a substantial milestone highlighting their perseverance in taking strides in politics. Their representation in legislative bodies in Rwanda highlights their commitment to occupy significant political positions in the country and globally. The implementation of women’s political participation by SADC shows their political achievement in fighting for equal leadership rights.

Works Cited

Mlambo, Courage, and Forget Kapingura. “Factors Influencing Women Political Participation: The Case of the SADC Region.” Cogent Social Sciences, edited by Richard Meissner, vol. 5, no. 1, 2019, pp. 1-13, doi:10.1080/23311886.2019.1681048.

Organization of American Historians. “Interchange: Women’s Suffrage, the Nineteenth Amendment, and the Right to Vote.” Journal of American History, vol. 106, no. 3, 2019, pp. 662–694, doi:10.1093/jahist/jaz506.

Watkins, Sarah E., and Erin Jessee. “Legacies of Kanjogera: Women Political Elites and the Transgression of Gender Norms in Rwanda.” Journal of Eastern African Studies, vol. 14, no. 1, 2020, pp. 84–102, doi:10.1080/17531055.2019.1711313.