So we have women in cabinet such as Harman and Kelly who, whilst undeniably hard-working and intelligent, are too politically lightweight to be effective leaders of their departments. keep to the Fen Causeway
Dati is universally seen as incompetent and yet she is more protected by Sarkozy than any other given the symbol she represents (female and Arab).
Lagarde embarrasses Sarkozy with her unashamed neoliberalism, so she is kept hidden as much as possible, but at least her competence and legitimacy are contested by no one, even if her policies are fought tooth and nail.
Alliot-Marie is hated by Sarkozy, and is seen as an unavoidalbe leftover from the Chirac/Villepin years, so she is also kept in isolation as much as possible. Again, neither her legitimacy nor her qability to do the job are contested.
So these two are treated as male politicians in the same position would be, which is in a way a lot more important than the Dati show. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
