Does a female president change parliamentary behavior for women? This paper examines rising global descriptive representation through the lens of an exogenous shock: Malawi's presidency transitioned from male to female.

New Data & Methods Needed Fast, We analyze unique parliamentary transcripts data. Our approach highlights how political power held by women can influence peers and colleagues.

* Parliamentary Speech Analysis: Using detailed transcripts, we track shifts in speech patterns among MPs.

* Regression Discontinuity Design: This method allows us to isolate the effect of having a female president.

MPs Suddenly More Confident, Our findings reveal women Members of Parliament (MPs) significantly increased their public speaking under a female head of state. Women MPs moved beyond stereotypical gendered issue ownership patterns, gaining more influence and visibility.

This research provides crucial insights into Symbolic Leadership Effects, demonstrating how visible role models can empower previously marginalized groups in politics.