Women in Power and Out of It

by Fr Shay Cullen

Sheik Hasina Wased, Prime Minister of Bangladesh [Wikipedia]

The rise of women into to high public office has given a new dimension to the global political scene. In the United States for the first time in history, a woman, Hillary Clinton, has been nominated by one of the two major parties to run for the Office of President.

The decisions and direction women in powerful positions bring to their national governments can determine the fate of millions of people. Theresa May in the United Kingdom has recently become prime minister.
Angela Merkel, the Chancellor (prime minister) of Germany, is the most powerful woman in the European Union. The women leaders in Bangladesh, Brazil and other countries have the historic opportunity to combat the exploitation of the most vulnerable women and children.

But they are not without opposition, mostly male, who degrade and denounce them like Donald Trump who holds no punches in insulting Hillary Clinton on her way to the likely position of the most powerful woman in the world.

Despite the rise to position of influence for some, millions of women still struggle in other countries for their identity, freedom and dignity. They are routinely degraded and subjected to exploitation and domestic violence by their spouses or partners. Many endure the physical and verbal abuse for the sake of the children and because they are dependent. Poverty and illiteracy are for women and children the bars of a prison cage.

Full Reflections here.