When America chose between two male presidential candidates in November 2000, one
might have wondered why a woman has never been a serious contender for the highest
office in the nation. The concept of a woman in power is not farfetched. Women
have been queens of nations, tribal chiefs and empresses throughout history.
Below, we've listed a few of the women who have been popularly elected or
appointed as head of state in a democratic government during the last few
decades. For more information, read
Women Rulers
throughout the Ages by Guida M. Jackson.
Distinguished Women of Past and
Present also has an
excellent guide to women in government.
Indira Gandhi
As prime minister of India from 1966 to 1977
and 1980 to 1984, Gandhi led the world's
largest democracy. Indians called her Mataji, or "respected mother."
Golda Meir
Meir moved to
Palestine in 1921 from Milwaukee and quickly became a leader in the Zionist
movement. She was elected to the legislature of
Israel in 1949 and served as prime
minister from 1969 to 1974.
Margaret Thatcher
Thatcher began her
long career in Great Britain's Parliament in
1959. She was the first female prime minister and the longest serving. She
advocated conservative economic policies during her tenure from 1979 to
1990.
Vigdis Finnbogadottir
The first popularly elected female president in history,
Finnbogadottir defeated three men in her first run
for Iceland's presidency in 1980. She worked to modernize
Iceland and
improve the status of women until the end of her fourth term in 1996.
Mary Eugenia Charles
The first female lawyer on the Caribbean island of
Dominica, Charles was elected prime minister after
the island gained independence from Great Britain in 1978. Known as the
"Iron Woman of the Caribbean,"
Charles instituted
economic reforms and environmental protections during her three-term tenure.
Benazir Bhutto
Bhutto served as prime minister of
Pakistan from 1988 to 1990 and 1993 to 1996 during
the country's woes with huge debt, the heroin trade and Afghan refugees.
Gro Harlem Brundtland
As prime minister of Norway from 1986 to 1989 and
1990 to 1996, Brundtland encouraged entrance to the European community. A
strong proponent of women's rights, Brundtland helped lead a movement
resulting in
increased female participation in government. She now serves as the Director-General of the World Health Organization.
Violeta Barrios de Chamorro
Chamorro became the first women to be elected president in the Western
Hemisphere when she won the elections in
Nicaragua in 1990. Her
reforms failed to help the country's ailing economy and she retired in 1997.
Mary Robinson
After she was elected president of Ireland in 1990,
Robinson said of the Irish voters,
"Instead of rocking the table, they rocked the system." After a successful
presidency, Robinson accepted a position as the
UN High Commissioner for
Human Rights.
Mary McAleese
Elected president of Ireland in 1997, McAleese
continues to promote the peace process
between Catholics and Protestants.
Helen Clark
Clark became
prime minister of New Zealand in 1999. She had served in
parliament for 19 years and held posts as the head of the health, conservation, housing and labor departments.
Tarja Kaarina Halonen
Halonen was elected president of
Finland in 2000. She had served in Parliament
since 1979 and as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1995 until her election.
--- J. Britten
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