"In July 2006, women accounted for just under 17% of parliamentarians worldwide. A woman was the head of government in only seven countries." This could be due to short supply, higher cost of entry due to family, or to voter attitude, which previous research has found may be "distaste" for female leadership.
Researchers at the Center for International Development at Harvard (PDF here) have found that voters, men in particular, are prejudiced against female leaders. At least those in certain villages... READ ON