Thread by @maclaudiaa

In the wake of the #COVID19 pandemic, it's inevitable to compare different responses & styles of leadership.

One very popular refrain is countries led by women (see 🇩🇪, 🇦🇺, 🇮🇸, 🇳🇴) are doing way better.

But let's look a bit further into this 👇

1/
thehill.com/changing-ameri…

The proportions appear impressive: almost all countries which are doing a better job are guided by a ♀️/ have ♀️ in leadership position.

Do women lead differently? Why?

The narrative that ♀️ were created more empathetic doesn't sit well with me.

2/
anthrosource.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.152…

As any reviewer n.2 would tell you, we have a rather small sample size: a lot of countries (included mine 🇮🇹) have never had a ♀️ leader.

I'm not even talking about PMs: we still have too many all-men experts task-forces.

3/
corriere.it/opinioni/20_ap…

So, where are women leaders?

Well, in a "a political culture in which there’s a relative support and trust in the government" says prof. Gerson here 👇

...that's a good starting point

4/
theguardian.com/world/2020/apr…

But, wait, what create a good "political culture"?

You can guess it, "a country that elects a strongman, is an already troubled country" & machismo kills now more that ever.

5/
theatlantic.com/international/…

A leader selected exactly for their brute stenght + macho personality, already has a script to play.

And usually nothing good comes from being constricted in that role.

6/
theatlantic.com/magazine/archi…

Instead, in countries which "open up the scripts for roles that leaders play", it is possible to be heard, and to gain popularity (and ultimately trust) differently.

This paves the way for gender equality.

7/
hbr.org/2019/03/as-lon…

All crisis lay bare existing problems: how we currently view leadership is detrimental both for males and females, and may literally kills.

Will we learn our lesson?

8/8

@TheAtlantic @HarvardBiz @TheHillTimes @ChangingAmerica @guardian