THOMAS/Michelle Obama decries ‘sexism’ – Madison County Journal

Report on Political Leadership, Identity, and Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Analyzing Leadership Through the SDG Framework

This report analyzes recent public discourse concerning female political leadership in the United States, with a specific focus on its implications for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Commentary from former First Lady Michelle Obama regarding the nation’s readiness for a female president provides a case study for examining the intersection of identity, policy, and public perception. The analysis is framed primarily through the lenses of SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

SDG 5: Gender Equality in Political Participation

Achieving full gender equality and empowering all women and girls is a core objective of SDG 5. Target 5.5 specifically calls for ensuring women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership in political life. The current debate highlights several challenges and perspectives related to this goal.

• Perceived Barriers to Female Leadership: It is asserted that sexism remains a significant barrier to women attaining the highest political offices, with the electoral losses of prominent female candidates cited as evidence. This suggests that progress toward Target 5.5 is impeded by persistent societal biases.
• Alternative Factors in Electoral Outcomes: A counter-argument posits that electoral success is determined by factors beyond gender, such as policy clarity, communication skills, and public perception of a candidate’s character. From this viewpoint, focusing solely on gender as the reason for electoral loss may obscure other critical elements of political viability.
• Global Context for Female Leadership: International examples demonstrate that while female leadership is increasingly common, a leader’s gender does not inherently determine their effectiveness or adherence to principles of justice. Competence and policy are presented as universal metrics for evaluating leaders of any gender, aligning with the broader goal of capable leadership under the SDGs.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities and the Role of Identity

SDG 10 aims to reduce inequality within and among countries, promoting the political inclusion of all, irrespective of sex, race, or religion (Target 10.2). The discourse on leadership selection reveals a fundamental tension in the strategies employed to achieve this goal.

1. Historical Precedents: Historical elections, such as those of a Catholic president (John F. Kennedy) and a Black president (Barack Obama), are noted as instances where identity-based barriers were overcome, demonstrating a potential path toward greater political inclusion.
2. Identity vs. Substance in Policy: A central issue identified is the emphasis on “identity politics,” where a candidate’s demographic characteristics are prioritized over the substance of their policies. This approach is critiqued for potentially diverting focus from the ideas and qualifications necessary to address systemic inequalities effectively.
3. Strategies for Inclusive Representation: Some political leaders explicitly adopt appointment strategies aimed at ensuring representation from a wide array of communities, including those defined by race, gender, religion, and socio-economic background. While this directly addresses the call for inclusion in SDG 10, it raises questions about whether capability and policy expertise are given sufficient weight in the process of building effective governance structures.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The development of effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels is the cornerstone of SDG 16. The criteria by which leaders are chosen and evaluated are directly linked to the strength and integrity of these institutions.

• Institutional Trust and Candidate Selection: Public trust in political institutions can be influenced by the perception that leaders are selected based on identity rather than qualifications. This concern highlights the importance of transparent and merit-based processes for maintaining institutional legitimacy.
• The Primacy of Competence and Policy: For institutions to be effective, they must be led by competent individuals with clear policy objectives. The argument is made that voter decisions are often, and should be, based on a candidate’s perceived ability to govern effectively, irrespective of their gender or race.
• Inclusive and Effective Governance: The ultimate objective is to build institutions that are both inclusive (SDG 10) and effective (SDG 16). The analysis suggests that a candidate’s policy platform and demonstrated capabilities are critical determinants of their potential to strengthen governance, with identity serving as one of many factors for voters to consider. A candidate’s alignment with a voter’s policy preferences can often transcend identity-based considerations.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • The article’s primary focus is on gender in politics, directly addressing the goal of achieving gender equality. It revolves around Michelle Obama’s statement that “America is not ready for a female president” and discusses the political careers of female figures like Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton, and Margaret Thatcher. The text explicitly mentions “sexism” and the debate over whether gender is a prohibitive factor in reaching the highest political offices, which is central to SDG 5.
2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • The article delves into “identity politics,” which encompasses inequalities based on race, gender, and other statuses. It references historical political milestones related to identity, such as the elections of a Catholic president (John F. Kennedy) and a Black president (Barack Obama), framing them as struggles against societal prejudice. The discussion about whether candidates are judged on identity or qualifications speaks directly to the goal of reducing inequalities in political opportunities.
3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • This goal is relevant as the article discusses the nature of political leadership and representation within public institutions. The debate over “identity politics” versus “the substance of one’s ideas and policies” is a commentary on what constitutes effective, accountable, and inclusive governance. The Seattle mayor-elect’s pledge to appoint a diverse cabinet is a direct example of an attempt to build inclusive institutions, a key aspect of SDG 16.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.
   • This target is the most directly relevant. The entire article is a commentary on the challenges and realities of women’s participation and leadership in top-tier politics. The specific examples of Hillary Clinton’s and Kamala Harris’s losses, contrasted with the statement that “Women hold more political offices in America than ever before,” directly address the progress and remaining barriers related to this target.
2. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
   • The article’s discussion of identity politics connects to this target. It questions whether the political system allows for the inclusion of all individuals based on merit, or if factors like race and gender are primary determinants. The quote from the Seattle mayor-elect about appointing a cabinet that reflects the diversity of various communities (Black, Indigenous, Asian, Latinx, 2SLGBTQIA+, etc.) is a clear articulation of an effort to achieve this target of political inclusion.
3. Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.
   • This target is addressed through the article’s examination of what voters and leaders prioritize in a representative democracy. The core tension between judging candidates on their identity versus their policies is a debate about how to achieve truly representative decision-making. The article implies that a focus on identity alone, as mentioned in the Seattle mayor-elect’s quote which lacks “any reference to capabilities or policies,” may not lead to responsive governance, thus engaging with the complexities of this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicator for Target 5.5 (Implied): Proportion of seats held by women in public office.
   • The article does not provide specific percentages, but it directly references this metric with the statement: “Women hold more political offices in America than ever before.” This qualitative statement implies the use of an indicator that tracks the number or proportion of women in political positions over time to measure progress toward full participation. The discussion of the presidency also points to the ultimate measure of female representation at the highest level of executive office.
2. Indicator for Target 10.2 (Implied): Experiences of discrimination.
   • The article implies an indicator related to perceived discrimination. Michelle Obama’s assertion that America is not ready for a female president due to “sexism” points to a perception of discrimination based on gender in the political sphere. This aligns with indicators that measure the proportion of the population who feel they have been discriminated against based on their identity.
3. Indicator for Target 16.7 (Implied): Proportions of positions in public institutions by population groups.
   • The quote from Seattle mayor-elect Katie Wilson provides a clear, albeit qualitative, reference to this indicator. Her goal to “appoint a cabinet of exceptional leaders whose lived experiences reflect the diversity of Seattle’s Black, Indigenous, Asian and Pacific Islander, Latinx/Hispanic, and People of Color communities as well as that of women, immigrants and refugees, 2SLGBTQIA+ communities…” is a direct attempt to make a public institution (the cabinet) representative of the national/local distribution of different population groups.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: onlinemadison.com