There are far-reaching consequences to the under-representation of women in politics, economics, and society. Gender gaps inhibit development, and they prevent the efficient functioning of our democratic systems. And if we are to take any lessons from last week’s midterm elections, it’s clear that the American people want to see a greater female presence in our political leadership.

America Makes Progress Towards Equal Representation

Although of course opinions on the matter will vary, Americans are really smart. They’re starting to recognize that equal participation of women — and all genders, races, ethnicities, for that matter — is key to building a government that accurately represents the diversity that characterizes our great nation.

American women are showing up in force on both sides of the ballot box. Last week, the U.S. midterm elections attracted a record number of female voters to the polls, and millions of these women cast their votes for female candidates. This helped the Democratic party pick up over two dozen seats in the House of Representatives. In fact, the vast majority of the seats that the Democrats were able to flip in the house — 18 total — went to female candidates. Now, there are more women serving in Congress than ever before in U.S. history. And if history has taught us anything, this means good things for American society.

Research has shown that when women are in elected office, they make issues that affect families and children a critical part of their policy agendas. And while the political pundits constantly point towards the economy as the key factor driving voter behavior, building a society where kids and families can thrive is something we can all get behind. Unfortunately, however, women make up only one-fifth of national political leadership worldwide. This is true despite the fact one-half (more-or-less) of the population is female. While a variety of factors contribute to this state, one cannot ignore the impacts of implicit discrimination that has been built into social and economic systems almost everywhere.

Sexual misconduct and assault scandals rocked the highest offices of our government, from the Oval Office to the Supreme Court. Gender bias and discrimination infiltrate the corporate leadership of even the most progressive companies. Women have felt this impact, and they’re responding with a demand for more equal representation in American politics. This has already fostered a permanent change in the electorate, and we’re almost certain to see the next generation of female leaders carry forward the important achievements we’re making today.

Gender Equality Isn’t The Status Quo (But It Should Be)

Gender equality is a fundamental human right, and its potential benefits are universal. This isn’t a fringe opinion, it’s an official Millennium Development Goal for the United Nations and the official position for countless other international organizations that advocate for better policy. And while it’s relatively uncontroversial to say that women are entitled to equal access to education, jobs, and healthcare, saying the same about political power inevitably elicits pushback. But the fact of the matter is that women are vastly underrepresented in politics in just about every country in the world, despite the fact that they usually do great things once they’re elected to office. This is at least partially due to impacts of bias and discrimination.

Both the economy and society at large can benefit from more female leadership. This isn’t just a matter of fairness and society-building, it’s a question of overall economic success. Closing social gender gaps increases economic competitiveness, and in an increasingly globalized economy a competitive edge is something every nation can use. However, women around the world face substantial barriers to meaningful political participation. As a result, policymakers should focus on ending gender discrimination and increasing the role of women in social and economic leadership roles. But with fewer and fewer Americans placing trust in our public institutions — particularly with respect to their respect for gender equality and women’s rights — change is going to have to start from within.

Large scale progress doesn’t only occur from the top-down. Often, it must begin at the grass roots. Empowering women to become leaders begins by changing social attitudes. Before women can reach their full potential, they must have equal opportunities. This requires making the challenges facing women and girls a policy priority on both the national and community level. Otherwise, we will all miss out on the important benefits female leadership can bring to our economies and societies worldwide.