Breathe
By Pamela Sandoval
Lessons from Mexico to the United States in Light of the 'Golden Year' Analysis
"Women are not a minority in the world, and yet our political power is still not commensurate with our numbers," feminist and activist Gloria Steinem once said. In light of Represent Women's recent 'Golden Year' analysis, her words resonate even more strongly. The report reveals that, of the 85 countries that held elections in the years 2021 and 2022, 43 achieved a "golden year" in terms of women's representation in their national legislatures. This is a significant achievement, but as Steinem warns, much remains to be done.
Mexico stands as a leader in this area, thanks to a well-implemented gender quota policy. Since its introduction, it has achieved gender balance in the Legislative Branch and its impact extends beyond. The two main candidates in Mexico's upcoming presidential elections are women, something unprecedented in the history of our country. This transformation is not accidental, but the result of years of legislative changes, from the initial recommendation in 1996 that women represent 30% of all congressional candidates, to the bold 2019 constitutional reform requiring "gender parity in everything."
But parity is not just a question of numbers; it is a question of quality and political results. It is not enough to have more women in positions of power; it is necessary that these women have the capacity to influence politics and decision-making. In this sense, gender quotas are only a first step, albeit a crucial one. They must be accompanied by cultural narratives that challenge and transform patriarchal structures, as the report emphasizes.
- The contrast with the United States is alarming. Despite being one of the world's oldest democracies, the U.S. ranks 70th in female representation in national parliaments. Structural and cultural barriers, from the lack of a quota system to entrenched social norms, limit opportunities for women. But as the Mexican example demonstrates, and as the Golden Year report suggests, there are clear paths to progress.
System-level reforms, such as gender quotas and proportional voting systems, can be particularly effective. In a proportional system, women tend to perform better, contributing to a richer diversity of voices in politics. In addition, as Professor Jennifer Piscopo points out, reforms to the way parties recruit and fund women candidates can also be a significant driver of change.
Yet, as stated earlier, these changes must be more than superficial. They must seek to empower women at all levels, from the household to the highest level of government. Only then can we aspire to a truly inclusive and equitable democracy. And only then will Steinem's words cease to be a call to action and become a description of reality.
The opinions expressed are the responsibility of the authors and are absolutely independent of the position and editorial line of the company. Opinion 51.
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