Bridging the Gap: A Pentadic Analysis of Theresa May’s Conservative Conference Speech “Britain after Brexit: A Vision of a Global Britain”

This qualitative study of British Prime Minister Theresa May’s Conservative conference speech “Britain after Brexit: A Vision of a Global Britain” delivered in the fall of 2016 uses pentadic criticism as the basis for its analysis. This contemporary study identifies women as an underrepresented minority in the realm of politics around the world and media as a powerful channel for their portrayal. As the role of women in political leadership is more prevalent in times of crisis around the world, it is exceedingly important to understand the role that the media can play in their portrayal for both foreign and domestic audiences alike. This study reaffirms that more women in leadership within politics is needed for equitable gender representation in politics. May’s speech and her portrayal within the media for both foreign and domestic audiences show that it is possible for women to bridge the gap of gender and politics

Conditions Pertinent for Overcoming Gender Inequality in Political Leadership: A Comparative Analysis of Angela Merkel and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

This qualitative study of Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany implements a most different systems design (MDSD) as the basis for its comparative analysis. A cross-examination of Johnson Sirleaf’s and Merkel’s personal backgrounds, their leadership styles in their political careers before they became the heads of their governments, and their level of political participation in democracy or liberalization movements prior to their rise to power is conducted in this study. Key strands of feminist approaches in IR, such as liberal feminism, difference feminism, and postmodern feminism add to this study’s discourse on Johnson Sirleaf’s and Merkel’s rise to political power. The basis for this study is that women comprise an underrepresented minority in the field of politics worldwide. As women in political leadership is more prevalent in times of crisis around the world, it is exceedingly important to understand the conditions under which women political leaders may attain their country’s highest political office. More so, this study identifies some key similar conditions from which Angela Merkel and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf overcame gendered obstacles in politics to reach their country’s highest political offices