A Matter of Life-or-Death: The Efficacy of Female Leadership During COVID-19

Between estranged loved ones, flooded hospitals, and dwindling economies, the COVID-19 pandemic is a prime example of the term “crisis.” Each and every country has been uniquely and sometimes distinctly tasked with handling the devastating effects of the virus. Historically, nations with substantial economic power and resource abundance have been best prepared to deal with such calamities. Under this notion, it would follow that countries such as the United States of America (USA) and the United Kingdom (UK) would combat the virus most effectively. However, looking back over the past 11 months, a paradox has presented itself: it is those ever-powerful nations who are now in shambles, whereas some smaller economies have managed to keep their relative stability intact. Namely, the USA has had the highest cumulative case totals of any nation, recently hitting a record case count of 308,000 cases on January 8th, 2021. Similarly, the UK ranks fifth worldwide in total cases, with daily case counts at a threatening level. In an attempt to explain this paradox, there is speculation as to state-specific predictors of effective handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. One factor increasingly being brought to light is that of female leadership in governance.