US Election Results 2024: With results nearly finalized in the 2024 US presidential election, former President Donald Trump leads by a decisive margin, highlighting once again Americas reluctance to elect a female leader to the nations highest office. Despite significant progress in gender equality across many nations, American voters still appear to prefer male authority in political leadership, impacting their perception of female candidates.Election standings as Trump nears victoryCurrently, only seven states remain uncounted in the presidential race. So far, Trump, representing the Republican Party, has claimed victory in 27 states, while Democratic candidate Kamala Harris has won in 15. In Maine, both parties secured one seat each. Trump now holds 248 seats out of 538, just 23 short of the majority needed to win, while Harris stands at 214 seats. With Trump leading in six of the seven remaining states, it appears Harriss historic bid for the presidency may soon fall short, despite her strong campaign.Male bias in American presidential politicsAccording to reports, Trumps lead in key swing states positions him favorably, reinforcing a pattern in US politics where female presidential candidates face significant obstacles. Swing states, which lack a strong party allegiance and often determine election outcomes, currently lean in Trumps favor, indicating that the US may once again elect a male President.Global comparisons in female leadershipInternationally, the US lags in electing female leaders to executive roles, despite leading in other areas of gender equality. In 1960, Sri Lanka elected Sirimavo Bandaranaike as its Prime Minister, followed by Indira Gandhi in India (1966), Golda Meir in Israel (1969), and Margaret Thatcher in the UK (1979). More than 60 countries have since seen female leaders rise to power. Experts question why the US, a champion of democratic values, still struggles to place a woman in its highest office.The US has had only two female presidential candidates in its 231-year democratic history. Following Hillary Clintons candidacy in 2016, Kamala Harriss 2024 campaign marks only the second attempt. However, gender bias remains a formidable barrier.Challenges for women in US electionsA report from Time Magazine highlights that women in US presidential races often face double standards. Female candidates frequently confront scrutiny over gender-related issues, which some voters view as distractions from broader economic and political concerns. Additionally, US elections are direct popularity contests, unlike parliamentary systems that allow party-elected leaders. The direct election format requires aggressive voter engagement, which, experts argue, can be challenging for female candidates to navigate successfully.Analysts also attribute the challenge to the two-party system. In parliamentary democracies, coalition politics often facilitate the election of female leaders, as parties join forces, providing greater opportunities for women. Many parliamentary systems also reserve seats for women, a feature absent in the US. Women occupy only about 20 percent of seats in the US Congress, which lags behind the 35 percent benchmark seen in countries with higher gender representation.Enduring gender biases in the USIn a Pew Research survey, 65 percent of respondents indicated that voters are more inclined to support White male candidates over others. Only 36 percent believed being a White woman was an advantage in elections, while many viewed racial and gender diversity as disadvantages in running for office. Such statistics reveal a persistent bias against women in American politics, one that sees men as more suited for leadership.US falls behind in Global Gender Equality rankingsAccording to the World Economic Forums 2023 Global Gender Gap Report, the US ranks 43rd out of 143 countries in political empowerment for women, underscoring its shortfall in gender parity in government. The lengthy and media-driven US campaign process also presents obstacles for female candidates, often subjecting them to heightened scrutiny. This relentless focus on personality over policy is rare in other countries, where campaigns tend to be shorter and centered more on policy distinctions.Historical instances of gender bias in leadershipWhile the US held its first presidential election in 1789, women did not gain the right to vote until 1920. Debbie Walls, an expert in American political affairs, explains that direct presidential elections disadvantage women, as Americans are reluctant to view women as capable of leading in crises, such as wars. Voters continue to associate leadership with traditionally male traits, which continues to hinder female candidates.
