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Long before Sanna Marin became the new prime minister of Finland, she made it clear what she definitely doesn't want to be reduced to: that she is a woman. And that she is young. "I never thought about my age or gender," she said once, "but about the reasons that brought me into politics."
And yet, when Marin inherited the previous Finnish Prime Minister Antti Rinne in office at the beginning of December, those characteristics became the headline worldwide: that she is a woman. And that she is young.
At 34, Sanna Marin is the youngest incumbent head of government in the world. Her four coalition parties are also led by one woman. In Germany Angela Merkel is also a woman in power, but in everyday political life the majority of them are men - as in most countries in the world.
Jussi Nukari / Lehtikuva / dpa
Sanna Marin (2nd from right), new Prime Minister of Finland, with ministers
Less than six percent of the world's heads of government are female. And a look at the parliaments and ministries shows that women are far from being a matter of course in politics. Finnish conditions are a rarity.
Women currently lead a government in only 15 of 193 countries. For example:
- Jacina Ardern : Before the Christchurch attack, the New Zealand prime minister was known outside of her home country primarily for being a mother during her term in office - as the second head of government.
- 42-year-old Mette Frederiksen: She was treated as a political prodigy in the Danish press. She has been Prime Minister since June - and not the only woman to head a Scandinavian government. Erna Solberg rules in Norway .
The fact that women rule more often than anywhere else, especially in Scandinavia, is because the proportion of women in the parliaments there is above average. In Finland, 42 percent of MPs are women, and Sweden is the EU leader with 47 percent. But not in a global comparison - an African country tops the list: Rwanda.
Rwanda is often referred to as the "Sweden of Africa". More than 61 percent of female parliamentarians sit in his parliament.
In 2003 the African Union adopted the "Protocol for the Rights of Women in Africa" - the so-called Maputo Protocol. One goal: to strengthen women's right to equality in political processes. Because women played a subordinate role in the political life of African countries for decades. Something is happening now:
- In 2018, for example, a cabinet was launched in Mali that is made up of one third women. Among them Camissa Kamara, 36. She became Foreign Minister and is now Minister for Digital Economy and Future Studies. Recently "Forbes" magazine included Kamara on its "Women to Watch in 2020" list.
- In Ethiopia , President Abyi Ahmed presented an equally divided cabinet in the same year - 10 out of 20 ministers are women.
However, critics have doubts as to whether the numbers really go hand in hand with social change in Africa. Whether, for example, parliamentarians in Rwanda really have something to say. And how much they end up being influenced by a government elite led by men. "In Rwanda," said the opposition women's rights activist Diane Shima Rwigara in SPIEGEL, "everyone is afraid." Fear of the power of President Paul Kagame.
The quota system has its origins in Latin America. Argentina was the first country to pass such a regulation in 1991. Since then, at least 14 other countries in Latin America have introduced women's quotas - with varying degrees of success.
Bolivia and Cuba are currently the only countries besides Rwanda whose parliaments have more women than men. The fact that the proportion of women in other countries in the region is only slowly increasing despite the stipulations is also due to different electoral systems, and sanctions, which are supposed to be punished for violations, are often not effective.
Which ministries are often run by women
If a woman makes it to a ministerial post, it is in most cases an office in the social field. Women were most common in the Ministry of Social Affairs, followed by ministries of children and families. Education, environment, gender equality, health - all items that are proportionately most often in female hands.
The situation is very different when it comes to defense, business, transport, finance: these departments are almost always in the hands of men. Germany is an exception. After Ursula von der Leyen, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer is the second woman in a row to lead the Ministry of Defense. In Sweden, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was last clothed by a man more than five years ago. Until recently, a woman in Mali also held the office.
How can more women make their way into top political positions? What instruments are there?
The surely fastest way for women in top political positions remains the quota, both in the parliaments and on the election lists of the parties , the political scientist Jessica Fortin-Rittberger told the SPIEGEL. She has researched the subject for a long time and says, of course, you can wait until a society changes on its own and women come into political positions by themselves. However, such a change takes a long time.
This coincides with a new report by the World Economic Forum: If development continues as before, it would still take 95 years before one could speak of real parity in politics - that is, several generations. But it could also go faster, the study makers write, namely when the so-called "role model effect" occurs. The more women are in positions of power, the more other women feel motivated to follow suit. And see power as their option.
A short portrait of six politicians
Kamissa Camara, Minister for Digital Economy and Future Issues in Mali
From 2018 to 2019 she was Foreign Minister - and thus the youngest and first female Foreign Minister in the country's history. She grew up in France, lived in the United States for a long time, and has a Malian passport as well as a French and American one. Camara sees itself as an intermediary between Africa and the West. Politics, Camara once said, is a misogynistic area, and: "This is not an African problem, but a global one."Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand
In the 2017 election campaign, the then fresh Labor boss had to put up with questions about her desire to have children. Despite large backlogs of polls, she led her party to victory a little later; and became the youngest head of government in New Zealand at the age of 37. Since then she has been winning over women's rights, environmental protection and increasingly focusing on social policy. In the first year of her tenure, she also became a mother. In March, she encountered the greatest challenge of her political career to date: more than 50 people were killed in an attack on two mosques in Christchurch. Ardern showed himself to be a reconciler - and tightened arms laws in the country.Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh
At the end of 2018, 72-year-old Hasina, daughter of the first Bangladeshi head of state Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was re-elected for the third time - the election was overshadowed by violence and dozens of deaths. In general, the prime minister is controversial. She cultivates a bitter hostility to another woman - the opposition Khaleda Zia, the two are fighting for power in Bangladesh. A struggle that repeatedly paralyzes the country politically. For more than 25 years, the two women have alternated at the top of the government. Hasina is credited for boosting economic growth and taking in hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees from neighboring Myanmar. Critics accuse her of maintaining an authoritarian style of government, restricting freedom of the press and freedom of expression, and suppressing the opposition.Jeanine Áñez, Transitional President of Bolivia
Most recently, she was the second vice president of the Bolivian state. After the resignation of President Evo Morales in November, she declared herself head of state. The 52-year-old lawyer had previously made a name for herself as a women's rights activist and television presenter. She has been in parliament for ten years. Áñez is an opponent of the longtime socialist president. The post as interim president is the highlight of her political career - at least for the time being. Now it has to call new elections by January 22nd.Margot Wallström, former Swedish Foreign Minister
Before taking office in 2014, Wallström was a UN Special Representative for the topic of sexual violence in conflict. "The global systematic subordination of women to men is basically a question of human rights," Wallström repeatedly says in interviews. She is considered an advocate of feminist foreign policy. Wallström also spoke in the course of the #MeToo debate about sexual violence at the "highest political level". In September she announced her resignation. Wallström's reason: From now on she wants to spend more time with her husband, children and grandchildren. Your ministry remains in female hands. Ann Linde is the new foreign minister.Ana Brnabic, Prime Minister of Serbia
When Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic nominated her as head of government in 2017, the newspapers spoke of a "revolution in Serbian history". Brnabic was not only a political newcomer at the time, she is also the first woman in the office - and a lesbian. In some other countries, the latter would not be a sensation. However, homosexuality is a sensitive issue in Serbia. Brnabic will probably not become a campaigner for the rights of the LGBT community. The non-party politician is extremely loyal to the president, is silent about the state of Serbian democracy as well as about the homophobic climate in politics. Instead, the 44-year-old is known as a radical liberal economist. She is an economist, finance and marketing expert and was previously Minister of Administration.In 2020, a few more women could be elected to head a government:
- In New Zealand , for example, voting is then carried out. Prime Minister Ardern is expected to try to defend her position. It won't be easy. After the "Jacindamania" proclaimed by the media in 2017, the politician is now viewed more critically, at least in her home country. The reason for this is the slow growing economy - but also the cautious handling of allegations of sexual harassment in the own party.
- The ongoing protests in Latin America , on the other hand, could make the political landscape more feminine in the coming year. Arizona State University scientists say women politicians are often perceived as outsiders and less corrupt than their male counterparts. In order to signal change, Latin American parties would therefore nominate female candidates more frequently in times of crisis.
- In Bolivia , the protests have already helped a woman to head the country. After Morales resigned, Jeanine Áñez declared herself interim president. It is now up to their government to schedule new elections as soon as possible. In her home country, Áñez is controversial, but she enjoys support from the United States and Brazil.
- The US will also vote in the coming year. For years there has been discussion about whether the time has come for a woman in the White House. However, in order to compete against Donald Trump, one of the democratic candidates would first have to prevail against her male rivals from her own party: for example Elizabeth Warren.
This contribution is part of the Global Society project, for which our reporters report from four continents. The project is long-term and is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
What is the Global Society project?
Reporters from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe will report under the title Global Society - about injustices in a globalized world, sociopolitical challenges and sustainable development. The reports, analyzes, photo series, videos and podcasts appear in the SPIEGEL policy department. The project is long-term and has been supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) for over three years.
Is the journalistic content independent of the foundation?
Yes. The editorial content is created by the Gates Foundation without influence.
Do other media have similar projects?
Yes. Major European media such as "The Guardian" and "El País" have developed similar sections with "Global Development" and "Planeta Futuro" on their news pages with the support of the Gates Foundation.
Have there already been similar projects at SPIEGEL ONLINE?
In recent years, SPIEGEL ONLINE has already implemented two projects with the European Journalism Center (EJC) and the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: The "Expedition Tomorrow" about global sustainability goals and the journalistic refugee project "The New Arrivals" several award-winning multimedia reports on migration and flight have emerged.
Where can I find all publications on global society?
The pieces can be found at SPIEGEL ONLINE on the topic page Global Society.