Beyond the Glass Ceiling: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s Presidency and the Fight for Women’s Political Inclusion in Liberia

Abstract

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first female democratically elected head of state, is renowned for her decisive leadership and reviving Liberia’s economy and society from the devastations of a protracted civil war. Despite her title as the first female president of Liberia, feminist scholars question her presidency for its impact on gender equality. Through Sirleaf’s tenure, there were evident contradictions in her feminist credentials, which sparked debate over her support for gender quotas and the effective representation of women in parliament. Did the election of Sirleaf translate into feminist policies? Did she have enough women in parliament to help push bills to advance gender equality? Was it Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's obligation to support gender quotas, and where does Liberia stand today?