“The true test of leadership is how well you function in a crisis.”
- Brian Tracy
Women leaders are gaining popularity worldwide for taking heedful steps that have prevented the spread of COVID-19 to a large extent in their countries. Some of the honourable mentions could be Jacinda Ardern, Angela Merkel, and Tsai Ing-Wen. These women have shown us that sound decision and coordination are essential to make a great leader and not belligerence.
The World Economic Forum and Centre for Economic Policy Research has a lot to support this fact that women-led countries such as Germany, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, New Zealand, and Taiwan have performed better when comparing them to their neighbouring states.
New Zealand commenced a nationwide lockdown from the 15th of March when there were only 100 cases. From the start, the country focussed on eradicating the disease rather than controlling, and so a very stringent lockdown was placed and only groceries, pharmacies, hospitals, and gas stations were allowed to run. Good news came through May 15th when it was declared that no new cases arrived and the nation is COVID free. Jacinda was much appreciated proving herself as one of the best leaders to tackle this crucial problem efficiently.
Coming to Germany, it is safe to say that it has, at the least, outstripped its neighbouring countries. Britain, France, Italy, and Spain have been central pivots for the pandemic and have barely been able to control the surging cases. In contrast, Germany helmed by Angela Markel was prepared to face the challenge. They started vacating ICU beds and alerting the citizens of its count even when there was no significant number of cases. Massive testing, strict social distancing, and highly equipped hospitals further aided in managing the situation. Holding a PhD degree in quantum chemistry herself, it is safe to say that somewhere she knew what was about to come.
Germany used digital mediums to keep the people informed of every essential data. Markel even assigned a team of scientists to clear the false and misinformation spreading within the population.
Looking into the Asian countries, most of them performed insufficiently in the facet of the pandemic but under the leadership of Tsai Ing-Wen, Taiwan has been able to tackle it without even putting people in quarantine. The country deduced a lot from technologies and put forth some good measures like updating citizens about mask availability near them and alerting doctors of travel history and risks associated with patients from time to time.
Tsai Ing-Wen formulated the Central Epidemic Command Centre to address the main concerns in an organized manner. Taiwan has far been able to effectively trace, test, isolate, and contain the infected people at a large scale. They even led their helping hands to the USA and other states in proximity.
Few things that seemed to be quite common in the above-mentioned countries are the high qualifications of leaders, more synchronized local bodies, less biased workplace, and comparatively open-minded people. If these indicators will be taken into consideration, they can be detrimental to how and why the governments work more effectively and cordially there.
These nations as a whole have shown us that it is not the gender that makes a good leader but the ideologies, experiences, and preparedness in situations and prioritizing the welfare for the society by all means.
Thus, all signs have pointed at one thing that we’re what constitutes our nation and everything we can do to take it to the top will be guided by our motivations and understanding. Hence, if we want the best, we’ll have to progress towards being part of a more gender-neutral and solicitous society that chooses not based on the mere sex of the leaders but on the efforts that are made by them.
Piece by-
Sunidhi Sharma
Sunidhi Sharma is currently studying Economics at the University of Delhi. She has always been very passionate about feminism, political issues and deliberating on the social injustices that prevail. In her lone time, she loves to cook and often finds it therapeutic in a strange way. Listening to songs and watching movies are her ways to get solace when the world seems to be graving in chaos. Get in touch if you want to talk about life and in a dire need of a refreshing playlist.
References and further readings-
https://indianexpress.com/article/world/women-leaders-jacinda-ardern-angela-merkel-fared-better-in-handling-covid-19-6562933/
https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/opinion/covid-19-that-women-leaders-are-faring-better-is-simplistic-and-flawed-thinking-5307801.html
ttps://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/15/world/coronavirus-women-leaders.html
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