We’re celebrating International Women’s Day this month, and in lieu of this joyous occasion that celebrates our lives and achievements, we asked ourselves just who were the women who lead countries both great and small? Who were these women who contributed, not only inspiring women to fulfill their dreams, but who also contributed to the world of politics?
These are the first female presidents and prime ministers
Shinawatra Yingluck
Yingluck was voted as Thailand’s first female Prime Minister in 2011. In the 2010 elections, her party won a huge majority of 52% of the votes, including 265 of 500 parliament seats. The Economist said she took the campaign by storm, impressing more than a few.
Angela Merkel
A physical chemist by professional background, Angela Merkel is Chancellor of Germany (equivalent to Prime Minister). In 2007, Merkel was President of the European Council and became the second woman to chair the G8 after Margaret Thatcher. Forbes magazine has ranked her as the world’s second most powerful person, earning the highest rank ever achieved by a woman
Isabel Peron
Isabel Peron was not only Argentina’s first female president, but she was also the world’s first female president ever! In 1974, she became the first woman to lead a South American country. She was the wife of previous Argentinian President, Juan Peron, in which she served as his vice president in his third term.
Laura Chinchilla
As Costa Rica’s first female President, Laura Chinchilla is the sixth woman to be elected president of a Latin American country. Before dabbling into politics, she worked as an NGO consultant in Latin America and Africa, specializing in judicial reform and public security issues.
Margaret Thatcher
Thatcher served as the longest-serving Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and also served as the first female Prime Minister in the UK too. She was nicknamed ‘Iron Lady’ by a Soviet journalist. In her rule, she implemented Conservative policies that are also known as Thatcherism.
Benazir Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto was not only the first female Prime Minister of Pakistan, but she was also the first woman elected ruler of a Muslim country in modern history. She was also the youngest chief executive of the world. She served two non-consecutive terms, but was convicted in absentia of corruption charges. In October 2007. she ended her eight years in exile, returning to Pakistan to run for office, but was assassinated two months after.
Sirimavo Bandaranaike
Before Thatcher took the United Kingdom under her wing, there was Sirimavo Bandaranaike, a woman who made history in 1960 by being the first elected female prime minister in the world, and of Sri Lanka (formerly known as Ceylon). Bandaranaike served as Prime Minister of Ceylon and Sri Lanka three times, from 1960-65, 1970-77, and again from 1994-2000.
Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi was India’s first prime minister who come from a family of political dynasty that included her father, Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister after the country gained independence in 1947. As of 2012, Indira holds the record of the world’s second longest-serving female Prime Minister after Margaret Thatcher. In 1984, she was assassinated by two of her Sikh bodyguards.
Cory Aquino
Apart from holding the title as Philippines first female president, Corazon Aquino was also a Nobel Peace Prize nominee. She also lead the “People Power” revolution that made her a global symbol for peace and democracy. In 1986, TIME Magazine named her Woman of the Year and even holds the title as Asia’s first female president.
