Enlightenment republics don't want women leaders

There are two great Enlightenment republics in the world - the United States and France, both established in the late 18th century and both inspired by Enlightenment ideals - especially freedom. Both regard themselves as beacons of progress for the rest of the world. Both threw off the oppressive yoke of monarchy and opted for presidential democracy.

Yet over 200 years later it's only now that France and the United States are facing the real prospect of voting for a woman president. And both Hillary Clinton and Segolene Royal are facing enormous hostility and a lot of sexism. As Jonathan Freedland showed in his BBC radio programme "The Long View", Margaret Thatcher faced a lot of sexist sneering, but that was 30 years ago.

I suspect the British were able to accept a woman Prime Minister because the logic of royal succession has put a woman on the throne a number of times. Force of circumstance has put a woman on top and life continued - the country didn't suddenly decline into a bunch of softies collecting shoes, swapping recipes and consuming romantic fiction.

Aside from the political merits of the two presidential candidates (who would follow Jacques Chirac and George W. Bush - not exactly stellar presidents), I don't think the French or the Americans are yet ready to allow a woman to take the top job