Yesterday, Lucina Di Meco, a senior gender expert with the Wilson Center, released her report, #ShePersisted: Women, Politics & Power in the New Media World, which looks into women leaders and the double-edged sword of social media in the current world order. The report covers 28 countries, 85 women in the fields of politics, civil society, journalism, television and technology, and the impact and importance of social media for women political leaders — given the continued gender bias found in traditional media.

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"During my time at RepresentWomen, I look forward to adding my passion as a feminist and my skills to help with the work started by the incredible people working here. Beyond this, I hope to learn more about the status of women's representation and leadership in my home country before taking what I have learned into the international realm."

In 1988 Susan Estrich was the campaign manager for Michael Dukakis’s Presidential run. She was the first female campaign manager of a major presidential campaign, and the first female campaign manager of the modern era. It used to be unheard of for women to run political campaigns. Now, it’s becoming increasingly common. 

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Gender parity in the new European Commission is a huge success, as is the number of countries reaching parity for their MEPs; but, for true gender equality to exist, women must have equal access and roles in all levels of government including municipal, national and supranational.

Despite the changes in public opinion, women’s role in Brexit and the focus on Brexit’s impact on women, has remained stagnant.

New Zealand’s actions for gender and Indigenous inclusion are working, it is now just a matter of ensuring Indigenous women have the same voice as their male and non-Indigenous counterparts. 

To achieve progress in women’s representation in many countries, including Brazil, a change in systems which enable and support the disenfranchisement of women and minorities is needed.

“My young men are to lay aside their weapons; they are to take up the work of women; they will plow the field and raise the crops; for them I see a future, but my women, they to whom we owe everything, what is there for them to do? I see nothing! You are a woman; have pity on my women when everything is taken from them.”

Yes, Women Won, but Their Fight for Gender Parity is Far from Over

In a speech to the International Council of Women in 1888, suffragette and anthropologist, Alice Fletcher said “I crave for my Indian sisters, your help, your patience, and your unfailing labors, to hasten the day when the laws of the land shall know neither male nor female, but grant to all equal rights and equal justice.” In the 131 years following Alice Fletcher’s speech, women in general have gained a great many rights, but the Haudenosaunee women have lost many of theirs, and there remains an upward battle for equal justice.