Enter the female?

Recently, The Economist reported on the rise and untapped potential of women (walled for non-subscribers) in the work- and marketplace coining the concept womenomics.

"Women are becoming more important in the global marketplace not just as workers, but also as consumers, entrepreneurs, managers and investors. Women have traditionally done most of the household shopping, but now they have more money of their own to spend. Surveys suggest that women make perhaps 80% of consumers' buying decisions—from health care and homes to furniture and food." 

Now, Angus Reid consultants also sums up the trend of women in politics ... 

"In 2005, important gains were made regarding women’s access to, and levels of participation in, political processes. We saw, under vastly different circumstances and across three continents, four women ascend to the highest political posts in their respective countries and the first opportunity for women in Kuwait to vote and stand for office.

Michelle Bachelet in Chile, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in Liberia, Angela Merkel in Germany and Portia Simpson-Miller in Jamaica have recently taken office amid much media conversation about their personal history, their political experience, the job ahead and—as is customary—what they were wearing.

These four appointments provided an increase of more than 30 per cent in the number of women at the executive level—a positive gain—but also a stark indication of the under-representation of women in our political systems.

At the forefront of political change, New Zealand first gave women the right to vote in 1893. Finland awarded women dual democratic rights—to vote and stand for office—in 1906. Today there remain a small number of countries who refuse women this basic human right.

An analysis of women’s political participation must consider not only the barriers within political institutions themselves—such as the masculine structure of the political game—but also gender inequality within historical, social, ideological and cultural contexts. Women’s inability to participate is exacerbated by the feminization of poverty, illiteracy and lack of education, and importantly by stereotypical roles that define women through their reproductive and care giving responsibilities." 

See also this list of female political leaders. Kiki From Globalclashes has also touched recently upon this topic in asking; Is Feminism an ill? 

So all in all, just a little pointer to a discourse on the rise of women in society and politics which might be interesting an important to note.