Ironically, South and Southeast Asia have seen the most women leaders of any region in the world. The first female prime minister in the world was from Sri Lanka, followed by India, Bangladesh, Philippines, Pakistan, Indonesia, etc. Burma has also the redoubtable Ang San Suu Kyi. Many have dynastic links, being the daughters or widows of respected leaders, but they themselves have become powers in their own right.

India however has also seen the ascension of women who have come to power on their own in several states, from both the left and right.

Oddly, the US where women’s rights are so advanced has never seen a woman president. Then again, the US has never adopted the metric system either.

There were 2 other female muslim heads of state in Bangladesh, Khalida Zia and Sheikh Hasina, so that makes 3 muslim women heads of state in the 80s and 90s.  Not all muslim women are in a burka and not all muslim men are averse to voting for a woman head of state

These feel good stories about a women or a minority getting into positions of power as momentous is just to make people feel good.What the gender of a leader is not even in the ballpark of importance to what they will do when given power.Would it be better for the minority community if there were another Justice Souter on the Supreme Court or Clarence Thomas?So the fact of someones gender may be the stimulus that allows a young person to strive for more, gender or race is not a panacea to the aggreived minority.

Indira Ghandi was once refered to by Frank Reynolds as the “worlds most powerful woman”

As Prime Minster she was far more powerful than India’s figurehead president.

Benizir Bhutto was Prime Minster of Pakistan and the first woman head of a Muslim State. 

People in the US should learn the word “egalitarian”
women actually do have some skills…. just not the one currently running.