Long ago, it was common opinion
That males held utter dominion
  Over earth as a whole,
  And the female's role
Was to serve as a housebroken minion.

Now part of what caused this perception
Is the story of Adam's inception.
  When God (feeling glib)
  Borrowed Adam's spare rib,
And thus caused a woman's conception.

This legend gained much noteriety,
Leading to patriarchal society.
  High positions back then,
  Were reserved just for men,
And allowed for no gender variety.

Another problem over the years
Was belief that there were "Separate spheres".
  This insidious doctrine
  Kept females locked in
Away from their masculine peers.

So the women all raised a dissent,
Seeking voices in their government.
  And gained the extendment
  Of the nineteenth amendment
Which let them vote to represent.

But the battle is not over yet,
Concerning what women should get.
  It would seem that at least,
  Down in the Middle East,
Subjugation is a veiled threat.

And a different problem continues
In a plethora of other venues.
  For although they can vote,
  There's a shortage of note,
Of women on political menus.

Now that we have Madeliene Albright,
One would think things are perfectly alright.
 But some folks believe
  That women should achieve
A certain percentage as birthright.

Some countries have quotas to force
Political folks to endorse
  Female candidates,
  But the mess it creates,
Drives the entire system off course.

Instead of a merit selection,
They use quotas to run for election.
  And this makes people scoff
  And just write them off
As a freely-admitted collection.

If we wish to achieve true equality,
Then quotas are just a frivolity.
  Let a candidate's gender
  Neither help nor hinder,
And run on pure basis of quality.