As the 2008 presidential election is rapidly approaching, a popular and at times controversial issue is that of women's suffrage.  This is the first time since the early 1900s that women's suffrage is back on the list of typical conversation topics.  With Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton as one of the leading Democratic presidential nominees, it has turned into a heated discussion among anyone uncertain about America's future.   The women's suffrage movement, which in the United States began in the mid-nineteenth century, has made leaps and bounds.  American women today not only have equal voting rights as men, but can also run for any public office.   In fact, there are currently sixteen women serving in the U.S. Senate and seventy-three in the House of Representatives.  A recent breakthrough for American women was on January 4, 2007, when Nancy Pelosi became the first female to serve as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Most governments today grant women the complete right to vote and run for office.  The exceptions include Lebanon, Bhutan, Brunei, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Vatican City.  Dr. Zeina Zatari of the University of California writes that, "While Lebanon's constitution guarantees equality to all citizens, the country's laws are multifaceted and tend to discriminate against women in practice."  Lebanon actually has a system known as partial suffrage.  Bhutan allows one vote per family or household, and because of the dominant patriarchal society, men usually get to vote.  Brunei is a governed by a monarchy, thus neither the men nor the women vote.  Saudi Arabia held its first local elections in 2005, but at this time does not allow its women to vote or hold public office.  The United Arab Emirates grants its women limited voting rights, and these rights may fully expand by 2010.  In Vatican City, there is no suffrage for women, but actually most of them men lack suffrage as well because, as author S.E. Smith writes, "The only elections held in Vatican City are papal conclaves, which traditionally include a body of all-male Cardinals."

Now, although American women may have more rights than the women of most other nations, America still has room for improvement in one particular area.  It has been nearly ninety years since the U.S. enfranchised women, and yet it lags behind even some developing countries in regards to women serving as head of state.  Countries such as India, Nicaragua, Indonesia, Pakistan, Israel, Bangladesh, and Liberia have all had female presidents and/or prime ministers.  The elections this year may add the United States to that list.  We just have to wait and see.

By Maliha Khan