Often, politics is believed to be male dominated, but there have been women throughout history who outshone their male counterparts. History is the evidence for it.
📷By @roricomics on Twitter
1. The world’s first female head of government was Sirimavo Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka. A woman who made history, she embraced socialist policies in the economy and undertook major constitutional changes that resulted in the island becoming a republic. An advocate of the Non-Aligned Movement, she developed and maintained strong international relations. She served three terms 1960–1965, 1970–1977 and 1994–2000.
📷By @roricomics on Twitter
2. Benazir Bhutto was the first female head of a Muslim Nation after Razia Sultan in 1300s. She followed her father’s footsteps, who was executed in 1979. She was repeatedly imprisoned by Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq's military government and then exiled to Britain in 1984. She returned in 1986 and led the Pakistan Peoples’ Party to victory in 1988 election. She was often criticised as being politically inexperienced and corrupt, and faced much opposition from Pakistan's Islamist lobby for her secularist and modernising agenda. She nevertheless remained domestically popular and also attracted support from Western nations. She was seen as a champion of democracy and women's rights in Pakistan and in the world.
📷From Vecteezy
3. In Britain, the ‘golden years’ have been marked in the regnal years of their 3 famous queens: Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II. Under each of these queens, Britain has been prosperous and wealthy, and has been acclaimed for its industrial advancement.
📷By Herbert R Sim
4. UK’s first female Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, became the head of the government when no one in the West expected or even dreamed of. She was credited with revamping the British Economy post- World War with her “Thatcherism” policies. Her role in ending the Cold War was also quite significant.
5. How could one forget the Big Brother? Although United States has never had a female president, the first ladies have played a very significant role in American politics. From President John Quincy Adams to President Barack Obama, the first ladies have been women of strength and character who have been advocates for various causes. Be it Mrs. Roosevelt with her War Effort Campaign or Mrs. Clinton advocating for women’s rights, each first lady has contributed something unique to their respective presidencies and been the backbone of the POTUS.
The world has come a long way; from delicate housewives to dauntless leaders of the world. However there is still room for improvement. Give women a chance, give them an opportunity to prove themselves and they won’t disappoint. It’s time to stop undermining the capabilities and potential of women and give them the respect and status that they are entitled to; that is an equal human being.
By Rehat Thussu
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