In the likely event that half the top six world economies will be led by a woman by the end of the year, as well as two of the top financial institutions,are we seeing a greater acceptance of the western electorates that gender has no bearing on ability at the highest office.

Chris

Dear Chris,

You are misLEADing when you call these predators "leadership", and their despicable activities "highest office". Even if they happen to belong to the "soft gender", their behaviour is as cruel and harsh as the men who do the same and being women, apparently, is no barrier to how low they can get.

Hi Chris,
I think it reflects an understanding that top leaders are exceptional individuals, so gender or other characteristics are less important than ability.

G'day, LO,

To my mind, gender does not and should not have any bearing. However, both genders need to have ability and integrity. Sadly, the experience in Australia has been that the unfortunate females elevated BECAUSE of their gender, have all been duds: Joan Kirner, Gillard, Palaszczuk, Carmen Lawrence, and Ann Bligh (who started well, but ended badly).

It might be that all of these women were of the Left, where form is more important that substance, but I wouldn't say that there were not women on that side who are capable. Perhaps the capable women are those who actually like being women, and don't want to be involved in grubby politics? They leave it to the not-so-capable, and the grubby types like Hilary Clinton, who has so many black marks against her, that politics is the only thing she can do. Heaven help America if she gets to do it.

Overall, I think that the call for 'more women in politics' is just more of the PC nonsense that is smothering the West. The usual people denying that men and women are different, and that they were meant to be for obvious reasons.

I guess the fact that female politicians do not have to be physically attractive is an advantage. This would have excluded Gillard for example.

A quick look at the way TV news has degenerated to almost useless, with the proliferation of attractive female reporters tends to indicate, that an influx of the fairer sex is not likely to improve the quality of political leadership.

This is reinforced by looking at the Democrats fall with their female leadership, & the stupid actions of the Green ladies.

Unfortunately I expect it will get a lot worse, with the continual lowering in the quality of the men drawn to politics. I believe the capable have decided that our government is beyond redemption, & have abandoned the field to the ladies & fellow travellers.

God help our grand kids.

I have gained the impression over the years that females are promoted to leadership when it looks as if a disaster is looming. Let them take the storm and the men will return when it's safe.