If Iceland can accept a gay woman as head of state, why does that seem so unimaginable for the United States?

Time for another thought experiment (admittedly, one not far removed from recent and present realities). Imagine if the United States were facing an unprecedented financial-social crisis, the makings of which had been brewing for years and the solutions to which were far from obvious. Suppose the mood of the country favored genuine unity. Genuine unity, of the sort that Churchill asked of the British people as they faced years of grueling warfare against Nazi Germany; deep social cooperation to solve deep  problems, not just starry-eyed rhetoric penned by a twenty-seven year old.

Suppose that the U.S. had a well-respected political leader available, one with a history of successfully addressing problems of social welfare, the sort of problems that the economic crisis will generate and exacerbate and which will have to be addressed if the the social - and therefore, economic- fabric of the country are to be restitched.

To this point in our thought experiment it might seeem quite obvious that the U.S. would turn to this leader. But now, include these variables: this leader is 66 years old and looks and acts consistent with that age; this leader is a woman; this leader is openly gay and has listed her domestic partner on official websites since such websites have been in place; this leader is a highly ambitious politician, somebody who sought to develop and cultivate her own political following, although also has shown the ability and willingness to work with and across political dividing lines.

Try to figure out which variable would most weigh against this person as the choice to lead the United States in time of such crisis.

Apparently, none of them are preventing Iceland from coalescing around Johanna Sigardardottir (right) as the Iceland's choice for its next Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, check this out:

The almost equal gender balance of AMs in the Welsh assembly has transformed how politics in Wales is conducted, according to a new report.

Comments

[Msakel]

Great post indicative of the advancement of European mentality compared to the antideluvian Bushian throwback to the 50s. But when you view ads like the one submitted to NBC (no mean misogynists themselves!) by PETA and vilifying and exploiting crudely and blatantly women as sex objects to support....vegetarianism...well, one can only dream of this type of political wisdom shown by Icelandians! Meantime, the current administrations promotes its most viciously misogynist supporters by giving them the "Director of Speechwriter" and "Senior Director of Multilateral Relations" posts. Sexist punk Jon Favreau and the clueless Ivy Tower academician Powers are finding kindred spirits in the Obama White House in the presence of Larry "Girls-Can't do Sciences" Summers....
And to think Canada has a constitutionally-entrenched gender equality clause since 1982....shame...

[jmac]

There was a report out a few weeks ago that said women are allowed to take over a company only when it is tanking. When a company is prosperous, a male will get the job.

[Mirlo]

Sometimes, when I see a picture of the cocky boy's club at the WH, I want to scream. 51 percent is very much needed, the only way to change is building our very own grassroots. Have no doubt, boys like Jon Favreau are fertilizers to our movement.

[purplefinn]

jmac, that has been my theory in terms of a woman president here. Only when the men have totally messed up the place, will women be allowed to rule. It's sort of like a poster I saw years ago: "the meek are contesting the will."

[jmac]

Purplefinn, in the U.S. we decided to let the minority male handle the mess instead of the more capable female. Maybe he can clean it up, or maybe, maybe we'll finally give a female a try. It's just too bad we passed on the most capable and informed female around.

[democraticjack]

Heidi, I do believe that all of the variables are at odds with a socially immature electorate who routinely vote without understanding the issues and that gender and sexual orientation have little to do with quality leadership ability. We have miles to go before this country is ever genderblind much less gay affirmative, but at least the path has been forged.