Would european/asian countries take a woman president seriously?

Question

There are many countries out there that see women as inferior. They do not even grant them the right to vote, let alone their voice in opinions. Do you think that a woman president would make these closed minded nations lose respect for the united states and cause other nations to think we are an easy target economically or militarily? Why or why not?

please....be reasonable. save your pro/anti bush, war on terror, senseless garbage, etc, for a less informative post. I'm considering using better thoughts for a possible research topic.

example of what i don't want to see: "no nations take us seriously because bush is an idiot and lost all respect for us."

Answer 1

First, your premise is incorrect. "They do not even grant them the right to vote..." must refer to Saudi Arabia, because the only nation without universal suffrage is Saudi Arabia, according to the CIA. See reference 1.

What european/asian countries are you talking about? Almost all of european and asian countries have either already had a woman as head of government, or their neighbor has.

That ground has already been broken:

U.K.: Margaret Thatcher | Israel: Golda Meir | India: Indira Gandhi | Pakistan: Benazir Bhutto | Argentina: Isabel Martínez de Perón
and...

Maria Lea Pedini-Angelini
Corazon Aquino
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Michelle Bachelet
Agatha Barbara
Sirimavo Bandaranaike
Sabine Bergmann-Pohl
Mame Madior Boye
Gro Harlem Brundtland
Nino Burjanadze
Patricia Busignani
Kim Campbell
Edda Ceccoli
Violeta Chamorro
Eugenia Charles
Tansu Çiller
Édith Cresson
Irena Degutienė
Luisa Diogo
Elisabeth Domitien
Ruth Dreifuss
Vigdís Finnbogadóttir
Lidia Gueiler
Tarja Halonen
Sheikh Hasina
Reneta Indzhova
Janet Jagan
Anneli Jäätteenmäki
Janet Jagan
Sylvie Kinigi
Chandrika Kumaratunga
Mary McAleese
Beatriz Merino
Angela Merkel
Natasa Micic
Mireya Moscoso
Maria das Neves
Ertha Pascal-Trouillot
Carmen Pereira
Ruth Perry
Marita Petersen
Maria de Lurdes Pintasilgo
Milka Planinc
Biljana Plavsic
Mary Robinson
Gloriana Ranocchini
Radmila Šekerinska
Jenny Shipley
Maria do Carmo Silveira
Portia Simpson-Miller
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf
Hanna Suchocka
Megawati Sukarnoputri
Yulia Tymoshenko
Agathe Uwilingiyimana
Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga
Claudette Werleigh
Sühbaataryn Yanjmaa

There are more than just a few. Therfore, I believe there are _few_ countries that would not respect a woman president or p.m. of this country. Irrespective of their feelings toward the President, I fail to see how it would make us an "easy target". Case in point: could anyone believe that Condoleezza Rice would hesitate to use military force if (God forbid) she were President?

"Respect is not vested by virtue of genitalia, rather, it is earned through the words and deeds of the individual." -MrLou

Answer 2

I don't think having a woman as president would have any impact on how "seriously" a country would perceive us. All of our government operations (e.g. Congress, the military, the CIA) would be the same. The president doesn't have as much power as many people think.
As far as other countries go, there are currently two woman presidents that come to mind immediately. Finland is run by a woman (who looks uncannily like Conan O'Brien) and so is Philippines. And don't think that Islamic countries wouldn't have a woman leader. Pakistans former leader was a woman before the new guy took over.

Answer 3

European countries probably would, Margaret Thatcher was the PM for England, and she was a good one. Most Asian countries probably would, but there would be some that didn't (China and North Korea). The Middle East deffinately would not, that is one of the major problems the current Sec. of State has faced.

I seriously doubt that the American people are ready for a femal President just yet.

Answer 4

I think we would have a very hard time maintaining our alliances with Islamic nations if we had a woman or Jewish President. The leaders of those countries have to save face with their people. To be seen cooperating with either type of American President could well result in their violent removal.

Some other nations would not have a real problem with a woman President. They are a bit more flexible. I can't think of anyone besides the Islamic nations that would have such a difficulty.

Answer 5

There might be some cultures that would have issues with it, although part of the identity of a woman is her nationality - for example, Saudis might respond differently to a Saudi woman and an American woman.

What's probably more important in terms of respect, is the power of the nation behind the woman. No one is going to mess with a woman president of the US because of the power in and behind the position itself.

Answer 6

To answer your first question, UK, Israel, and India come to mind. Each has had a working female leader in their highest political office.

In so far as respect is concerned, you can't lose what you don't have. We are already being targeted economically by OPEC, Germany, and Japan. Militarily, none dare target us openly, nor would that change under a female President..

Answer 7

Quite a few countries have had women presidents/prime ministers. Some that come to mind are England, Germany, Finland, India, Sri Lanka, Phillipines. Sure, some countries might have difficulty with it, but I think most don't care.

Answer 8

women everybody is political leaders all international...very effectively. The question is, will u . s . take a woman president heavily? regrettably, i think of the respond isn't any. in spite of her journey or understanding (and that i don't unavoidably propose Clinton now...), i don't have confidence that the U. S. is in a position to vote for or help a woman interior the oval place of work. So, interior the tip, what does that say with regard to the main suitable usa interior the international? lots for 'the main suitable individual for the activity'.

Answer 9

Well, it means that they can't go whoring together, which is obviously bad for foreign policy. :P

Usually, heads of state have a bit of a broader view of the world than the general population- It doesn't matter- it might even be to an advantage having one

Answer 10

why wouldn't european or asian nations not take a woman president seriosly? sadly, there are many nations that wouldn't give women a chance to be president.