Turning into the primary president elected on the polls in her nation, as Claudia Sheinbaum now could be in Mexico, meant for Costa Rican Laura Chinchilla an “huge duty”: she was going to be evaluated in a particular approach, she remembers.
“The evaluations of my presidency wouldn’t fall completely on me – as has at all times occurred with male presidents – but additionally on gender,” Chinchilla tells BBC Mundo.
She noticed that second not solely as a fantastic honor, she explains, however as “the chance to endlessly break the glass ceiling and thereby enable youthful girls to dream of reaching that peak.”
Maybe one thing related crosses the minds of Sheinbaum and plenty of Mexicans after the resounding victory of this 61-year-old scientist in Sunday’s presidential election in her nation, with 59% of the votes in line with the partial depend.
Nonetheless, current historical past means that feminine heads of state might face peculiar challenges in a Latin America with a powerful machista custom in energy.
A few of those that triumphed on the polls additionally needed to overcome a sure mistrust about their management capability: this occurred for the reason that Nicaraguan Violeta Barrios de Chamorro grew to become the primary elected president of the continent, defeating the present president Daniel Ortega in 1990.
At this time, 34 years later, Sheinbaum has additionally responded throughout her marketing campaign in Mexico to critics who imagine that her political godfather, outgoing president Andrés Manuel López Obrador, selected her as his successor to increase his personal authorities.
“I really feel assured in myself,” Sheinbaum stated in a current interview with the BBC. “I do not care about these issues that the opposition says that mine can be one other López Obrador authorities.”
Earlier than her, seven girls have been elected to preside over Latin American nations. However there is no such thing as a steady or linear pattern right here both.
In 2014, the area attracted consideration for its variety of feminine presidents: Michelle Bachelet started her second time period in Chile, Dilma Rousseff ruled in Brazil, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner in Argentina, Chinchilla in Costa Rica…
Nonetheless, 4 years later, Latin American nations have been once more presided over solely by males. There at the moment are solely two sitting heads of state within the area: Dina Boluarte in Peru and Xiomara Castro in Honduras.
So, what would among the girls who have been additionally elected presidents of their nations for the primary time advocate to Sheinbaum?
Three of them, Bachelet, Chinchilla and the Panamanian Mireya Moscoso, answered this query from BBC Mundo:
Michelle Bachelet, president of Chile from 2006 to 2010 and from 2014 to 2018
“My essential advice for the primary feminine president of Mexico can be that she work tirelessly to meet the guarantees made to the folks, demonstrating dedication to the well-being of her residents.
Moreover, embrace and promote the distinctive qualities that girls can deliver to management. Empathy, the flexibility to construct consensus and an inclusive perspective are important to handle at the moment’s complicated challenges.
It’s essential that you simply use your platform to push for insurance policies that promote gender equality and empower different girls and women. By doing so, you’ll not solely strengthen democracy, but additionally contribute to the sustainable and equitable improvement of your nation.
“Girls in energy have the chance to redefine management, and I’m assured that their tenure will encourage future generations to observe of their footsteps.”
Laura Chinchilla, president of Costa Rica from 2010 to 2014
“Past what I might additionally inform a president contemplating the big challenges that the train of that place entails, within the case of a lady I might advise her to not neglect the communication part.
The burden of social norms and prejudices that also persist – in line with the latest world values survey, 50% of individuals say that males make higher political leaders than girls – situation media protection and messages on social networks that weaken the picture of ladies in these positions.
Subsequently, they require differentiated efforts from these undertaken by male leaders.”
Mireya Moscoso, president of Panama from 1999 to 2004
“For me it was a dedication to be the primary feminine president in our nation and, above all, to indicate {that a} lady can do it too.
It’s a nice duty that we’ve to assist the nation, as a result of they believed in a lady president.
I believe the very first thing she (Sheinbaum) ought to do is name everybody: the marketing campaign has handed and now she has to hunt the union of all Mexicans, all events and work for the nice of all.
She has a tough job and a really massive duty.
When a lady turns into president of the Republic, after all everybody will pay attention to whether or not she does it nicely, if she does not do it nicely, if she goes to do it the identical as a person or not.
I believe the very first thing they’ve to offer her is assist, imagine in her so she will do job.
He has the desire, the will, the character. However above all, she wants all Mexicans to assist her on this work that’s going to be so arduous for her.”
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