It is a great achievement for the USA to elect a mixed-race President. But on the world stage it is a far greater achievement for the United Kingdom to have elected a woman as Prime Minister. In a time when women were still not equal, Margaret Thatcher led one of the oldest and sexist democracies in Europe. The USA is a relatively new country and we expect new ideas from this great nation. So it is a far greater achievement for a woman to land the top job. Women have only been accepted as real equals as recently as African Americans. I am happy for change but I wasn’t celebrating. Obama is still a man.
Obama’s skin color makes no difference to half the world. But to have a woman in charge, that truly would be amazing. Men of all colors still rule women around the world. Women are denied education, are tortured, are slaves, are NOT equal. A woman in charge of today’s richest nation would be a real achievement. Let’s not forget Queen Elizabeth I, who once ruled the richest nation in a world of men. But she wasn’t elected. Obama has no fear of being taken seriously abroad because the world is not all white. But if a woman was in his place, how would foreign leaders treat her when their own women are second class citizens? Men of all colors in all parts of the world rule over women.
I will rejoice for our equality if and when the USA elects a woman to the White House because on the world stage that will truly be an achievement.
LA from the Apartment the Size of My Ass 
“On the world stage it is a far greater achievement for the United Kingdom to have elected a woman as Prime Minister”
I’m inclined to disagree with that statement. If you look at the experience that black people have had in the US since its inception. The concept that a black man could rise through the ranks to become president is remarkable.
The US has never had a black leader before, so the fact that Obama is the first is a milestone achievement.
Women have been oppressed since the beginning of time, but the concept of a female ruler in England is not something new.
England cites Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth among her greatest leaders, arguably they weren’t elected but they did hold the top position.
Thus the idea of being under a woman’s authority was not outside of the British people’s mindset. But the idea of the US having a Black man as a leader is a complete first.