4 in 4

In only the 4th year since women were afforded suffrage in Kuwait, 4 women will hold posts in the ground breaking new session.

- CNN Reports

-- As one of the first four female lawmakers ever elected to Kuwait's parliament, Aseel al-Awadhi knows she has a tough road ahead in the conservative Gulf state's male-dominated legislature. Rola Dashti is one of four women who won parliamentary seats in the recent elections in Kuwait.

Still, victory is sweet.

"Even before the results, people were piling up to congratulate me either from my own district or from other districts," al-Awadhi, a university instructor, told CNN Sunday.

"I think that shows you the tremendous amount of support for women's role in politics," she said. "And I think today I can confidently say that [the] gender issue is history in Kuwait -- I mean, regarding women's role in politics."

Men have filled the seats of Kuwait's parliament for nearly five decades, and it was only four years ago that the country granted women the right to vote and run for office.

This is monumental in process and structure for Arab women. Especially considering they hold the lowest % of any group on earth in parliament or Government leadership (around 9%). Lets hope this is the beginning of a more egalitarian dialogue around the world on women's rights and leadership gifts.

But before you look down your nose and shrug off how unfairly women are treated in these "other" places. Here’s some info on the U.S. and it’s positive and negative stats on women in Government.

In 2009, 90 women serve in the U.S. Congress. Seventeen women serve in the Senate, and 73 women serve in the House. The number of women in statewide elective executive posts is 74, while the proportion of women in state legislatures is at 24.3 percent.

Women in state legislatures? All states are fortunate to have some.

Colorado is the highest ranked with 39%. SC is the lowest with 10%. 7 of the bottom 10 are from the south.

27 of our states have never had a woman Governor.

8 states presently have women Governors.

2 states have never had a women in Congress – MS and Iowa.

The international Average of women in Parliament around the globe is less than 20% - 4 to 1 in favor of men.

- Center for American Women in Politics

Now, what's the global gender breakdown you ask? 50/50. Still room for improvement.

Ivan L