Men still dominate politics but, recently, a number of formidable women have been taking them on
Political establishments around the world have long been dominated by men. With national policies and the rules of political games dictated by men, women are consistently under-represented in the corridors of power.
Countering the patriarchal values prevalent in societies, a series of recent high-profile bids by female politicians have heralded an increasingly strident female voice in the political world.
Last month, the glamorous Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner won the Argentinian presidency to become the Latin American country's first elected female president. Like Eva Peron, Argentina's legendary former first lady, Cristina dazzles the world with her impeccable image and fashion sense.
Also basking in the international limelight of late is US presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Enjoying a sizeable lead over the other leading Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, the 60-year-old US senator is tipped by many to represent her party in the 2008 US presidential election.
While these two female political heavyweights have surprised many by upstaging their male counterparts, many barriers still exist in social and political systems barring women from having a more active role in politics.
