As the COVID-19 pandemic rages across the globe, one thing is clear: in times of crisis, it matters who’s in charge.

We must rely on elected officials, managers, administrators, and those making policy decisions on the front lines not only to slow down the virus’s spread, but also to uphold human rights and serve the public interest. Here in the United States, some state and local governments acted quickly in response to bourgeoning local crises, but others, including the federal government, have been criticized for doing too little too late.

Already, we see that women in leadership have responded to the crisis in unique ways. Yet, at all levels of government in the United States, and across the globe, women are underrepresented in crucial decision-making bodies.

Already, we see that women in leadership have responded to the crisis in unique ways. Yet, at all levels of government in the United States, and across the globe, women are underrepresented in crucial decision-making bodies.

Currently in the U.S., women make up just 22 percent of mayors, 20 percent of governors, and 24 percent of Congress. Women are also underrepresented on the COVID-19 taskforces deployed by the White House and World Health Organization. Consequently, when these bodies make decisions about how to respond to the crisis, women’s voices and interests will not be fully included, which is a disadvantage for everyone.

Women in Leadership Often Means Better Outcomes for Women

A large body of research suggests that governments better serve women when more women hold elected offices. Beyond elected offices, research on representative bureaucracy suggests public administrators can also represent women’s interests, though representation is not formally part of their job.

My own research, drawing on evidence from Brazil, has found that increasing women’s representation in elected and administrative offices can lead to improvements in women’s lives. Data from more than 5,400 municipalities over time shows that that cities with women mayors allocate larger shares of their budgets to education, healthcare, and social assistance. Having women in local leadership is associated with more women-friendly policies and services, like women’s shelters and birthing centers, and a greater likelihood that the city has a plan and budget to advance gender equality and women’s autonomy.

Cities with women mayors are more likely to have women leading the local social assistance and health agencies, and also have smaller gender wage gaps in their executive bureaucracies and higher salaries for female bureaucrats, indicating that women mayors appoint women to higher posts throughout the local government.

The Pandemic’s Impacts on Women’s Rights and Access to Services

Based on this research, we would expect to see more women appointed to high-profile administrative positions, like the presidential cabinet or COVID-19 taskforces, whenever women hold elected offices. These findings also suggest that governments with women in elected and administrative leadership positions are likely better prepared to meet women’s needs and protect women’s rights during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Governments with women in elected and administrative leadership positions are likely better prepared to meet women’s needs and protect women’s rights during the COVID-19 pandemic.

These needs are urgent. Concerns about surges in domestic violence have grown as stay-at-home orders are implemented in cities worldwide. Experts warn the pandemic has created the perfect storm for domestic violence by exacerbating existing stressors and creating new ones. The pandemic has also severely disrupted women’s access to reproductive healthcare services, as states have ordered clinics to halt “nonessential” services, including abortions. Pregnant women are weighing the risks of a home birth versus a hospital birth and dealing with the prospect of giving birth alone. Household and caregiving responsibilities frequently fall on the shoulders of women and many women’s jobs are at risk, fueling fears that the pandemic will exacerbate gender inequalities across multiple fronts.

The systemic lack of women in leadership means that many governments are likely ill-equipped to meet women’s needs during this time. And the absence of women’s voices in policy decisions makes the retrenchment of women’s rights all the more likely.

Women’s Leadership Is Needed During COVID-19 and Beyond

Of course, women’s needs are ultimately inseparable from our collective needs. In the space of a few months, the pandemic has pushed both our healthcare and welfare systems to the brink of failure. Increasing government investments in these areas is paramount for curtailing the physical, social, and economic damage caused by the pandemic. The policy issues, social supports, and government services that women politicians have championed over the years are the precise services needed to support all of us through the COVID-19 crisis.

The policy issues, social supports, and government services that women politicians have championed over the years are the precise services needed to support all of us through the COVID-19 crisis.

As the 2020 elections approach, we should keep in mind how we want our cities, states, and federal government to respond to the pandemic and other policy issues moving forward. Women’s leadership makes a difference. Women elected officials appoint more women to important administrative positions. And women’s representation in both of these venues improves not only women’s lives, but also investments in the policies and services that will help all of us survive this global crisis and prepare for the next one.