Women In Politics Continue To Fight For Their Voices To Be Heard
On March 1, Raffaella Petrini became the first woman in history to serve as the president of the Pontifical Commission and president of the Governorate of Vatican City State.
Her appointment marks a milestone in the ongoing effort for women to attain leadership roles in governance and administration—fields historically dominated by men.
Women have made significant strides in politics, starting with the fight for voting rights.
In 1893, New Zealand became the first country to grant all female citizens the right to vote in national elections. Other nations followed, and in 1920, the United States ratified the 19th Amendment of the Constitution.
“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.”
More than 130 years later, women are not only voters but candidates and elected officials. The 21st century is welcoming female heads of state.
The progress is the result of generations of strong women who wrote, lectured, marched, lobbied and practiced civil disobedience and recognized themselves as equal citizens to men.
In 2024, Mexico swore in its first female president, Claudia Sheinbaum. Days later, hundreds of Mexican social media users posted videos of young girls watching a woman lead their country.
In many clips, a question echoed: “Can a girl be president, too?”—a reminder that while progress has been made, female representation in politics remains a challenge.
According to United Nations Women, as of last year, 107 countries—including the United States—have never had a woman leader.
However, it is note to mention that Kamala Harris made history as the first female elected vice president of the U.S.
Women in politics and government continue to face discrimination, misogyny, gender roles, harassment and violence.
In recent years, many female elected officials have been victims of sexual harassment by colleagues and targeted with sexist comments on social media.
A 2016 BBC News article, referencing a report by the Inter Parliamentary Union, stated: “One European member of parliament reported receiving more than 500 threats of rape on Twitter in the space of just four days.”
The truth is generations of women have worked tirelessly in politics, and their efforts are paying off. But the fight remains. Women are here to stay, and they will not be the last to hold positions of power.
As an aspiring woman in politics, I strongly believe in the need for more female voices to shape laws that will impact future generations. I am committed to increasing women’s presence in international politics.
