Effectiveness of female leadership 

• Germany, Taiwan and New Zealand are all countries that have women heading their governments. And although they are located in three different continents, the three countries seem to have managed the pandemic much better than their neighbours. 
• A detailed recent study by researchers in the United States reports that States which have female governors had fewer COVID-19 related deaths
• The important takeaway from the recent experience and such studies is the necessity of getting rid of inherent biases and perceptions about female effectiveness in leadership roles.

Indian Scenario

Underrepresentation in the Parliament

• Female Members of Parliament make up only about 10% of the total ministerial strength. 
• The underrepresentation of female Ministers in India is also reflected in the fact that Ms. Mamata Banerjee is currently the only female Chief Minister.
• Though the 2019 election sent the largest number of women to the Lok Sabha, they constitute just over 14% of the total strength of the Lok Sabha. This gives us the dismal rank of 143 out of 192 countries in female representation for which data are reported by the Inter-Parliamentary Union. 

Create a level playing field

• It is essential to create a level-playing field through appropriate legal measures, for example the establishment of quotas for women.
• As mandated reservation for women in gram panchayats was established in all major States since the mid-1990s, attempts should be made again to extend quotas for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies through a Women’s Reservation Bill. (It’s been 24 years since the introduction of the Women’s Reservation Bill for the first time in LokSabha. The bill is not yet passed by the parliament.)

Way forward

• The increased female representation in policy making goes a long way in improving perceptions about female effectiveness in leadership roles.

Short term effect

• This decreases the bias among voters against women candidates, and results in a subsequent increase in the percentage of female politicians contesting and winning elections. 

Long-term impact 

• Voter perceptions about the efficacy of female leadership may change so drastically in the long run that quotas may no longer be necessary.

Reference:

1. https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/weighing-in-on-the-efficacy-of-female-leadership/article32680360.ece