Costa Rica elects its first female president

Laura Chinchilla won Costa Rica’s presidential election Sunday, Feb 7. This marks a trend in Latin American politics that involves the increased election of female officials. Other female presidents recently elected in the region include President Michelle Bachelet of Chile who was elected in 2006 and President Cristina Elizabet Fernández de Kirchner of Argentina who was elected the following year. This trend can also be found in overall female representation in the government. The election of women to office may seem contrary to the idea of machisimo, commonly believed to be widespread in Latin America. However, it may also be understood to be the result of the common Latin American belief that women are morally superior to men that goes hand in hand with machisimo. Either way, Chinchilla’s election and the increase in female representation in Latin America is a positive trend for women’s rights that will hopefully inspire nations around the world.

Costa Rica Presidential Election: Laura Chinchilla

As we have discussed in class, Latin America has had an impressive number of female heads of state, and it is expected that the results of Costa Rica's presidential election on Sunday will increase this number by one more.

Laura Chinchilla, having served as VP for current president Oscar Arias, will possibly be the first female elected president in Costa Rica. She is socially conservative - specifically in regards to abortion and gay marriage - and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for her work to end civil wars in Central American countries.

Read more about her here.