Theresa May: An Inspiration and Role Model for Women Leaders
It is interesting to note that, while UK Prime Minister (PM) Theresa May has become a role model for women leaders, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has its own set of outstanding women leaders developed through the years.
What PM Theresa May has gone through is an outstanding and exemplary exercise of authority and strength in the face of challenges that Brexit brings about.
Three years ago, Theresa May became Britain’s second female Prime Minister. Throughout her entire stint as a Prime Minister, she has fought hard to make Brexit a reality. But little did everyone know, May originally voted for Britain to stay in the European Union (EU).
May only stepped in to handle the controversial divorce of UK from EU after succeeding David Cameron. After her appointment as Prime Minister in July 2016, she promised to respect the will of the British people (Referendum, June 23, 2016) and vowed a full exit from the EU. On May 24, 2019, May announced her resignation after her Brexit deal was rejected three times by Members of the Parliament (MP) – ending a three-year tenure of near-constant crisis over Brexit.
“I have done everything I can to convince MPs to back that deal. Sadly, I have not been able to do so. I tried three times… I will shortly leave the job that it has been the honour of my life to hold – the second female prime minister but certainly not the last. I do so with no ill-will, but with enormous and enduring gratitude to have had the opportunity to serve the country I love,” May said.
It is important to take note that she has led Britain through one of the most difficult periods of its political history, and at a time when women’s empowerment is a focal point in society. Despite all the criticism, she has stood strong and firm as a female Prime Minister. She serves as a role model for all women leaders to never let criticism and prejudice get in the way of delivering the best possible outcome for Britain.
As female representation in UK politics continues to improve (the current number of 209 women MPs is the highest ever – but constitutes just 32% of the total 650 MPs), the ASEAN member states is not lacking in examples of strong, capable women.
A handful of them includes Corazon Aquino of the Philippines who led the People Power Revolution that overthrew the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos; Sri MulyaniIndrawati and SusiPudjiastuti, both from Indonesia, with the former as Minister of Finance known for reducing poverty, improving living standards, boosting transparency and fighting corruption and the latter, popularly known for combatting organized crime in fishery, illegal fishing and boosting fish stocks in the Indonesian waters.
Also from the Philippines, Leni Robredo is the second woman to serve as Vice-President and for her work in women's empowerment and gender equality, was bestowed by the Thailand government the Honorary Outstanding Woman Award of the year 2016.
From Thailand, Yingluck Shinawatra became the first and youngest Prime Minister in over 60 years and from Myanmar, State Counsellor Aung San Yuu Ki, was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1991.
Despite these excellent examples, female political empowerment in the Southeast Asian region only sits at 13 percent, compared to the 23 percent global gap as stated in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) 2017 Global Gender Gap Report (GGGR).