Barack Obama Pitches an All-Female U.S. Government, Stating Things 'Would Be Better' Under Women

Former US President Barack Obama said things would be 'better' if women were put in charge of governments for two years during a 21 September discussion with Doris Kearns Goodwin, where he also addressed political divisions and the state of American democracy.

Obama made the comments while discussing the idea of an all-female government, telling a college audience that he believed putting women in charge of governments could improve living standards and other outcomes although he acknowledged they would not be perfect. His remarks were met with applause.

Barack Obama On Women And Government

'If you put women in charge of every government for like, two years, and saw how things were goin', I have a strong belief that things, they wouldn't be perfect, but they'd be better,' Obama said.

The comment came during a wider discussion about the current political climate. Obama said the US was experiencing divisions and that the country's democracy appeared 'broken in so many ways', while also arguing that Americans were less divided than politics and media might suggest.

'Obviously, today, we are rife with divisions, and our democracy seems broken in so many ways, and the tenor and tone of the times feel mean-spirited,' he said. 'We have gone through times like this before. I believe we can get out of them.'

Obama added that Americans were 'not as divided as we seem at the ground level' and said political and media coverage could give a different impression.

'We aren't as divided as our politics or our media would indicate. The loud, noisy, polarized dialogue is, in part, manufactured for a variety of interests,' he said.

Barack Obama Has Made Similar Arguments Before

Obama has made similar comments about women in government previously. During a 2019 talk in Singapore, he repeated the argument that having female governments for two years would increase living standards and improve other outcomes.

Women's rights were also a focus during Obama's presidency, according to the supplied report. The first bill he signed after taking office in 2009 was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which allowed workers to challenge discriminatory pay practices.

In March 2009, Obama created the White House Council on Women and Girls through an executive order. The council was focused on ensuring that women's issues were considered when the government developed programmes, policies and legislative proposals.

The September 21 discussion also touched on the need for younger voices in politics. Obama said he was focused on bringing people younger than himself into the political sphere.

Barack Obama Jokes About Michelle Obama

During the discussion, Obama jokingly suggested that the university should invite his wife, Michelle Obama, to speak next.

'She's better than I am,' he said.

Obama's comments came as he continues to make occasional public appearances following his presidency. In a New Yorker piece earlier this year, he explained why he chooses to speak publicly more selectively.

'For me to function like Jon Stewart, even once a week, just going off, just ripping what was happening, which, by the way, I'm glad Jon's doing it, then I'm not a political leader, I'm a commentator,' he said.

Obama also said he continues to work on issues that do not necessarily attract headlines.

'The media environment is so difficult that people don't even know all the stuff I am doing, right?' he said.

The September 21 discussion therefore covered more than Obama's hypothetical comments about women in government, with the former president also addressing political division, democracy and the importance of bringing younger people into politics.