Farida Jalalzai: Why are there so few women in political leadership postitions?

Dr. Farida Jalalzai, the featured speaker for Women’s History Month, presented her research on women, gender, and politics in a March 28^th event in the History & Politics Event Series. In her guest blog post below, Brianna Zichettella (junior, PSC), discusses Dr. Jalalzai’s presentation, “The Global Dimensions of Women’s Executive Leadership,” which examined the relationship between gender and political leadership in the international setting.

 Dr. Farida Jalalzai

By Brianna Zichettella (guest blogger)

In the wake of an American presidential election where a woman won the popular vote for the first time in American history, Farida Jalalzai’s research is especially relevant to both domestic and global politics. Her work focuses on the women who occupy and run for executive leadership positions such as prime minister or president. Despite significant increases in female leadership over the last sixty years, gender representation in executive positions is far from equal. According to Jalalzai’s statistics, there have been 144 female executive leaders between 1960, when the first female prime minister was elected, and 2017. Women are more likely to be prime ministers than presidents, but there are still 61% of countries have never had a female leader. Additionally, in 2017, only 6% of executive leaders are women.

There are many different factors that can influence a woman’s chances of becoming an executive leader. Jalalzai cites increased elite control, multi-party political systems, and liberal-leaning government as a few of the factors that tend to result in more female leadership. Regardless of the existence of these structures, many claim that more women do not hold executive leadership positions because women do not run.

Jalalzai disagrees. Her argument is that women run for executive office, but because many voters associate masculine traits with those positions, women are not often elected. For example, it is possible that more women tend to be prime ministers because the position emphasizes cooperation over the top-down hierarchical power structure of a presidency, and the role of a prime minister corresponds more closely with societal expectations for women’s’ behavior.

In addition to this, Jalalzai demonstrated that people tend to support the idea of a qualified female candidate from their party, but if pressed, those same people are more critical of women’s capabilities. Therefore, another reason for why more women are prime ministers could stem from the biases that people bring into the voting booth. Jalalzai’s research indicates that women are more successful in systems that do not choose executives through direct public input, such as prime minister positions that are chosen by a party rather than the voters.

Jalalzai argues that women candidates are often more qualified than their male counterparts. Despite this, they are held to higher standards and face more criticism about their appearance, speaking styles, and whether or not they smile. All three types of judgment can be seen in a lot of the criticism of Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential race.

For the American political system, Jalalzai argues that a shift in social opinion will need to occur for a woman to become president. She states that continuing political activism, such as the Women’s March on Washington, is central to illuminating the social, political, and economic inequality faced by women in America today.

Members of the History & Political Science Department faculty pose with guest speaker Farida Jalazai. L-R: Drs Jay Wendland, Aakriti Tandon, Lisa Parshall, Farida Jalazai, Penny Messinger, Elizabeth Campbell, & Andrew Wise. Missing from photo: Joseph Sankoh

Dr. Farida Jalalzai Discusses The Global Dimensions of Women's Executive Leadership

March is Women's History Month

Daemen marks its first decade of celebrating women's role in history

Image from the National Women's History Project  

http://www.nwhp.org/womens-history-month/womens-history-month-history/

Monday, February 27

4:30-6:30pm, Alumni Lounge, Wick Center

Chisholm '72: Unbought and Unbossed

    This 2005 documentary focuses upon Shirley Chisholm's 1972 Presidential campaign. Chisholm was the first black woman elected to Congress and a catalyst for change. Her 1972 presidential campaign confronted racism, sexism, poverty, and war.

Sponsored by the Women’s Studies Program for Women's History Month and Black History Month

Tuesday, March 7

6:45-8:45pm, RIC120

CLAW: The Collective of Lady Arm Wrestlers

Film and discussion by Dr. Shannon Lupien

    The Collective of Lady Arm Wrestlers (CLAW) is a national not-for-profit alliance of theatrical lady arm wrestlers that seeks to empower women and strengthen local communities through theatrics, arm wrestling, and philanthropy. This documentary details the beginning of the lady arm wrestling movement and its spread to over 25 cities throughout the US and internationally.

     After the film, Dr. Shannon Lupien (Assistant Professor of Psychology and 3-time arm-wrestling champion) will discuss her experience as a wrestler and its role in empowering women.

Sponsored by the Department of Psychology & Women's Studies Program
Light refreshments provided

Monday, March 20

11:15am-12:20pm, Duns Scotus 26

Straight Science, or: Sexing the Romance of Egg and Sperm

    Scientists are still struggling to find evidence of "homosexuality" in the human body, and heterosexuality appears to be the biological default. Where did this assumption come from, and what does it do to how we do science? Where does hetero-romance creep into our scientific observations? And what does this kind of "straight" thinking do to "other" bodies and our experiences?

Open classroom session for PHI/REL/WST 336: Sex, Love, and God 
Sponsored by Dr. Heike Peckruhn, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies

Monday, March 20

7:30pm, Alumni Lounge, Wick Center

What Happened to Miss Simone?

     This 2015 biographical documentary explores the life and career of America’s legendary singer, pianist, and civil rights activist Nina Simone. Known as the “high priestess of soul,” Simone left the US for Liberia at the height of her fame. 
Part of the Daemen Film Series

Dr. Shawn Kelley, Professor of Religious Studies, will lead a discussion after the film

Tuesday, March 21

6:30-8:30pm, RIC120
Unsung Heroes: Women in the Military

     Why do women choose to join the military and what contributions have they made to our nation’s defense? A panel of local female veterans will address these questions and more as they share their stories of military life and discuss the challenges and rewards of life in the military and issues related to adjusting to civilian life. Veterans on the panel will also answer questions from the audience and respond to issues raised by the documentary film, Unsung Heroes.

     Panelists include Lynn Magistrale; Jennifer Wiese, LMSW; Laureen Barone; and Nerfis Elminowski, ANP-BC, DNP. 

Co-sponsored by the Nancy Habermann Gacioch Veterans Center, Sigma Omega Chi Sorority, and the Student Veterans Alliance. More information at 839-7218 
Light refreshments provided

Wednesday, March 22

7:30pm, 3rd Floor Lounge, Research & Information Commons 

Readings at the RIC

Ansie Baird and Ann Goldsmith are this month's featured poets for Buffalo's well-respected ongoing poetry reading series.Readings in the RIC, whose participants meet on Daemen's campus every month (3rd floor of RIC). Sign up for the Open Reading at the start of the event to share your own poetry.

Co-sponsored by the RIC and the Daemen College Honors Program. 

Contact Dr. Peter Siedlecki for more details: psiedlec@daemen.edu 

Light refreshments provided

Thursday, March 23

5:30-7:00pm Rosary Hall

Gender & Careers Panel Discussion/ Mixer

How are women’s opportunities and career paths shaped by gender? Join a diverse group of Daemen College & Rosary Hill College Alumni to discuss how gender has shaped their careers—followed by a mixer between panelists and students in attendance. Panelists include alumni from different departments and graduation years.

** The S.O.S. Scholarship for Women’s Activism and Leadership will be awarded at this event. 
Co-sponsored by the Rosary Hill-Daemen College Alumni Association, AAUW Student Organization, the Daemen Eaglettes, and the Women’s Studies Program.

Hearty refreshments included 

Tuesday, March 28

6:30-8:30pm, Wick Social Room

Dr. Farida Jalalzai, “The Global Dimensions of Women’s Executive Leadership”

     What trends and conditions make it possible for women to rise to presidential and prime ministerial posts worldwide? Why does women’s leadership matter for democracy? Dr. Farida Jalalzai will address these questions in this lecture that explores the role of gender in the political arena and the patterns of women’s leadership worldwide.

     Dr. Farida Jalalzai, the Hannah Atkins Endowed Chair and Associate Professor of Political Science at Oklahoma State University, has published extensively on topics related to the representation and behavior of women and minorities in politics and the role of gender in the political arena. Her publications include Shattered, Cracked and Firmly Intact: Women and the Executive Glass Ceiling Worldwide (Oxford University Press), and Women Presidents of Latin America: Beyond Family Ties? (Routledge 2016).

Sponsored by History & Politics Event series (History  Political Science Department), Women’s Studies Program, Department of Modern Languages, & Global Programs Office

**COMING ATTRACTIONS (April)**

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

1:00-3:00pm, Executive Board Room, Wick Center (part of Academic Festival Schedule)

Acknowledgement of World Hijab Day

     The hijab is a type of religious covering worn by many Muslim women across the world. Have you ever wondered what it really means to wear a hijab? Or how to put one on? Or what you'd look like covered? Join Daemen's American Association of University Women (AAUW) as we explore the answers to these questions.

Date/Time/Location TBA:

Start Smart! Salary Negotiation Workshop

     Members of the American Association of University Women (AUW) Student Organization are planning to hold a Start Smart salary negotiation workshop in collaboration with members of the Buffalo Chapter of the AAUW in April!

     Join us to learn how to research salaries and negotiate for the starting salary you deserve in this interactive workshop led by trained AAUW facilitators.

Contact Dr. Penny Messinger for more details (pmessing@daemen.edu)

** All events are free and open to the public**

** For more information about these events, contact Dr. Penny Messinger Women’s Studies Program Director, at pmessing@daemen.edu **

Women's March on Seneca Falls, overlooking the National Women's Rights Museum, 1-21-2017. Photo by Brianna Zichettella