Australia was the second country after New Zealand, to give women the vote but few sparks of criticism has been ignited with Maxine McKew’s proposal of dethroning the Prime Minister at the forthcoming elections. Why? Can’t a woman occupy a position of authority in the nation? Even before, she secured for nominations, Maxine for PM emails started floundering all over, forget about her occupying of the position. Australia’s record of accomplishment on women political leaders is poor and is not likely to be changed by the individual success of a political star such as McKew. In January, in the same week that a woman began her historic bid for the US presidency, the Australian Prime Minister restructured his cabinet and condensed the number of women by one-third. If we look back at the country’s history, we find that not many women have gained the authoritative positions in any government. It could be anticipated that France might have a woman president by next year and it is for sure that Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton will take on the States’ political stage. Then there are women presidents in Chile, Finland, Latvia, Liberia, the Philippines and Switzerland. It is 105 years since, Australian women became entitled to sit in Parliament and 31 years since Margaret Guilfoyle became Australia’s first cabinet minister. Yet the number of women in cabinet and thus qualifying for prime minister-ship remains extremely low. The main reason for such a scenario is that, woman candidate has to gain majority from within but since there’s hardly any women in powerful positions, which makes the situation more tough. Although, women are now making up 24.7% of the House of Representatives yet it is difficult to arrive at a position that has a woman leading a party, that is, in office within the next 10 years. Women are often associated with their maternal and domestic prowess. Julia Gillard was condemned for not having children and for having a kitchen that was too clean. The criticism came not from her colleagues or the public but from journalists, including women correspondents. In many ways, the media is more uncomfortable with women political leaders than the public. Voters wouldn’t have any problem with a woman prime minister. It’s the political parties and media that seems not be ready. Talking about media and political parties, well, Carmen Lawrence’s case is the exact example. Her political career collapsed because of media persecution and colleagues’ criticisms, even when she enjoyed the support of public. When it comes to prime ministers, Germany is led by a woman. So are Jamaica, New Zealand, Mozambique, South Korea and the Netherlands Antilles. New Zealand’s past two prime ministers have been women and when Helen Clark first assumed office, the leader of the opposition was also female. Even countries like India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines and South Korea have produced women political leaders. Women are assuming political leadership around the world. Nancy Pelosi is now Speaker of the House of Representatives, the first woman to hold that powerful position. Hence, if we look at the political scenario of Australia, we find that for sparklers such as Maxine McKew, the road to the top is strewn with seemingly insurmountable barriers. But it’s really a matter of great pride, that, at least, she is taking a stand.