Democracy News

Steady Rise in Number of Female Diplomats
January 15, 2010
By: Benjamin Russell | Printer Friendly

Women are increasingly assuming high-profile diplomatic posts in the United States, according to the New York Times.  Though still a significant minority, the number of female ambassadors from abroad has increased five-fold in the last decade.  The increase may be related to the number of high-profile female diplomats from the United States itself.

Many female ambassadors believe that having Madeleine Albright, Condoleezza Rice and now Hilary Clinton act as Secretary of State has had a positive effect on their own government’s diplomatic practices.  In particular, Clinton’s high profile around the globe is thought to have made it easy for foreign governments to post women in their embassies in Washington. 

Several of the newly appointed ambassadors, who come from places like Burundi, Lichtenstein and Bahrain, believe they can play an important role in global diplomacy by focusing on issues from poverty to women’s rights while offering a different perspective from their male counterparts.

While some wonder if the increased role for women in global diplomacy represents diplomacy’s waning importance in international affairs, most agree that more gender diversity is a step in the right direction.

Sources:

New York Times – ‘Hillary effect’ cited for increase in female ambassadors to U.S.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/10/AR2010011002731.html