Former United States President Barack Obama has renewed discussion about women in political leadership after suggesting that the world could be better if women led every government for two years.
Obama made the comment during a public conversation with historian Doris Kearns Goodwin at Salem State University in Massachusetts on September 21, 2026.
During the discussion, Obama reflected on leadership and the current political climate before presenting a hypothetical scenario in which women were given responsibility for running governments around the world for a fixed period...READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
He acknowledged that such an arrangement would not produce perfect governance but said he believed the overall outcome would be better. His remarks were met with applause from members of the audience.
The former president also discussed political divisions in the United States and concerns about the country’s political environment. He argued that although disagreements may appear increasingly intense, ordinary people might not be as divided as political rhetoric and media coverage sometimes suggest.
Obama said the United States had experienced periods of political tension in the past and expressed confidence that the country could eventually move beyond its current divisions.
This is not the first time Obama has made a similar argument. During a speaking engagement in Singapore in 2019, he suggested that living standards and other outcomes could improve if women ran countries for two years.
His latest comments appear to continue his broader argument about the potential impact of greater female participation in political leadership.
The remarks come as women remain significantly underrepresented in political leadership worldwide. As of January 2026, women held the position of head of state or government in only 28 countries, while women occupied about 27.5 percent of parliamentary seats globally.
Women also accounted for approximately 22.4 percent of cabinet ministers worldwide. The figures indicate that, despite decades of progress, political leadership remains predominantly occupied by men.
During the same conversation, Obama made a light-hearted reference to his wife, former First Lady Michelle Obama. He joked that the university should invite her to speak next, adding that she was better than him.
The comment drew laughter and reflected the former president’s continued public praise for his wife’s abilities and influence.
Obama also spoke about the importance of bringing younger people into politics. He said he was increasingly interested in seeing younger voices take on greater roles in public life.
The former president has previously discussed political renewal and the need to create opportunities for a new generation of leaders.
His comments have renewed debate about whether greater female representation in government can influence policymaking, governance and social outcomes.
Research on women’s political participation has linked increased female representation with differences in areas such as social welfare, public policy and political cooperation. However, greater female representation does not automatically guarantee better governance, as political institutions, policies, accountability and individual leadership also play important roles.
For now, Obama’s hypothetical proposal has once again placed the question of women’s role in political leadership at the centre of public discussion.
