ABSTRACT
In the past, Latin America was not known as a global leader in terms of the status of women, but that is no longer the case. In the past two decades, women have been elected to the highest political o ce in seven countries in the region. Nicaraguans voted for Violeta Chamorro in 1990, Guyanans elected Janet Jagan in 1997, and Panamanians chose Mireya Moscoso as president in 1999. In 2006, Chile elected Michelle Bachelet, and, in 2007, Argentines voted in Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. In 2010, Laura Chinchilla was elected president of Costa Rica, and Dilma Rousse became president of Brazil. In Jamaica, Portia Simpson-Miller held the post of Prime Minister from 2006 to 2007. These women have achieved what is widely considered to be the most important marker of political power and of gender equality, two goals that remain beyond women’s grasp in most of the countries of the world. Women’s accomplishments stand out even more when we consider the strength of the executive in Latin America; throughout the region, presidents are not mere gureheads but wield considerable constitutional power, legislative initiative, and budgetary authority.
