Why Aren't We Ready for a Female President?

Couldn't stop blogging - even down south! All of South America is abuzz about Chile's first female president Michelle Bachelet.

Latin America's third directly-elected woman president takes over for a four-year term from Mr Lagos, who remains extremely popular.

Ms Bachelet takes over at the helm of the centre-left coalition which has governed Chile for the past 16 years, since the fall of General Augusto Pinochet's military regime.

A divorced doctor and a single mother, she was seen as an unusual candidate in a country considered one of the most socially conservative in South America. Especially since she is agnostic and does not know if she believes in God - in a strictly Catholic society. Ms Bachelet, who was jailed and tortured by Chile's former military junta, has promised to build a more equitable and tolerant society. Half of her cabinet are women.

Other countries are on the verge of female leaders, too, including Liberia and Finland. If these countries can do it, why can't we?

Well, I have a couple theories:

-Women don't support women - we are own worst enemies. Women are very judgemental and competitive with other women and try to tear each other to pieces.
-Lack of good candidates - if Condi and Hilary are the best we can do, no wonder we don't have a women leader
-The American Dream - no matter how progressive Americans think we are, most are still stuck in the Leave it To Beaver family concept...women aren't suppose to run a superpower country, are they?
-We are an aggressive society that is male dominated - men don't want that to change


However, I think the tide is turning & you can help. If you'd like to support more female leaders, don't forget to attend Emerge's event May 23....here are the deets:

Cocktails with Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano
May 23, 6-7:30
Regency Center, Lodge Room
415-874-7433 for more info
Emerge - Women Leaders For A Democratic Future131 Steuart St #300San Francisco, California 94105

Bejos! (Kisses in Portugese)