With Theresa May becoming Britain's second female Prime Minister, global attention turns to women running in two other elections, which reach major milestones later this month.
On 21 July, the United Nations Security Council will start formally considering candidates for the position of Secretary General, and five women are among the eleven declared candidates. Then, during the last week of July, for the first time in American history, a major party is expected to nominate a female candidate for President.
Women ascending to high offices of political power? That'll benefit women and girls, right? When I started telling friends and acquaintances that I was taking a job dedicated to increasing the number and influence of female politicians, I received credit for my perceived act of selflessness. I hate to disappoint, but this move is very selfish.
Photograph: Alamy
I'm committing to increasing the proportion of women in positions of power -- and thereby decreasing the proportion of seats occupied by my own sex -- because I'm convinced I will benefit. I expect to gain as I expect all of society will gain.
It starts with democracy. Although women and girls are half of the world's population, only 22% of all seats in national legislatures around the world are occupied by women. Our legislatures should reflect the gender balance of the citizens they serve. And not only because it sets a tone for a fair and just society. As Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says, "Women's participation in decision-making processes will undoubtedly create higher quality decisions compared to those made only by men." And Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says, "When women engage in the political process, societies thrive and prosper." In other words, involving women in politics delivers better results.
As Silvana Koch-Mehrin, the visionary founder and chairperson of the organisation I'm joining, emphasizes, "Advances in female leadership and gender parity have proven to measurably benefit entire societies, in terms of public confidence, prosperity, health, security and defense." This applies not only to women and girls, but also to my fellow men and boys.
Public trust in government and rule of law are required for both males and females to thrive economically and socially. Including women in positions of political power facilitates this trust. Research by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shows that, on average, the greater the share of women ministers in government, the higher the public confidence in those national governments. Three of the four countries recording the highest confidence in national government -- Switzerland, Norway, and Sweden -- are also among the gender equality leaders. In contrast, Greece, Slovenia, and Estonia are at the low end in both confidence in government and share of women ministers.
Societies where women are active in law-making are also fairer societies economically. Data indicate that the greater the share of women in the national legislature, the more that income is evenly spread within that country. Across the 34 countries of the OECD, Sweden, Finland and Norway -- leaders with at least four in 10 of their parliamentary seats occupied by women -- have among the smallest gaps between rich and poor. At the other end of the spectrum, Chile, the USA, and Israel, none with more than two of every 10 national lawmakers as women, have the highest income inequality. I want to live in a country which strives to avoid great disparities, which can lead to social instability.
Greater participation of women in political bodies also increases the supply and demand of employment opportunities for women in the broader economy, according to the World Bank. This will provide me with stronger colleagues to cooperate with and learn from, thereby improving my work and advancing my career. I'll also benefit as a consumer, since a more competitive workforce will yield better, more innovative products and services for me to choose from.
So it comes as no surprise that studies from the World Economic Forum confirm a strong correlation between an increase in gender equality and an increase in gross domestic product per capita. Or that the OECD estimates that on average across its member countries, a 50% reduction in the gender gap in labor force participation can lead to an additional gain in GDP of 6% by 2030. A stronger economy should spell good news for my own economic standard of living.
Women in powerful political positions serve as leadership examples for women not only in politics and business, but also in other spheres, such as healthcare as well as security and defense. OECD figures show that the increased presence of women cabinet ministers is associated with a rise in public health spending across many countries, which can help ensure better care for my family. I can also feel secure in the knowledge that more women in power means I will live in a world where war is less likely and peace is more enduring, according to UN Women.
Don't get me wrong. Self-interest is not the only motive in this career shift. I'm genuinely excited to play a small part in the global movement towards long-overdue gender parity. And I want my daughters to have all the same opportunities as their male classmates. But if they are ever asked, "Why is your dad working to give more power to women?" I hope they will reply, "Because that'll make the world better also for men."