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14 Developing Countries Who Had Female Leaders Before the U.S.

It's time for the United States to join the rest of the world in electing a female president.

Sophia Cunningham

Nov 07, 2016

Mount Holyoke College

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14 Developing Countries Who Had Female Leaders Before the U.S.

Women in International Politics

With the upcoming presidential election, there has been much talk about the prospect of electing the first female U.S. president. As the first female major party nominee, Hillary Clinton is the only woman in U.S. history to come this close to the presidency. (The first female major party candidate was Shirley Chisholm in 1972, and the first woman to announce her own candidacy for president was Victoria Woodhull in 1872.)

It's no secret that the United States is not as progressive as other major countries on this front. However, many people are not aware of just how behind we are. In fact, there are many so-called "third world" or developing countries that have or have had female leaders.

The United Nations has identified 48 nations as the world's least developed countries. These classifications are based on three criteria: gross national income per capita, the human asset index, and the economic vulnerability index. Despite these shortcomings in economic and social progress, fully 14 of these 48 countries (more than one quarter!) have or have had women leaders.

1. Angola

First female leader: Queen Nzinga

Assumed power: 1626

2. Bangladesh

First female leader: Prime Minister Khaleda Zia

Assumed power: 1991

3. Burundi

First female leader: Prime Minister Sylvie Kinigi

Assumed power: 1993

4. Cambodia

First female leader: Queen Ang Mey

Assumed power: 1835

5. Central African Republic

First female leader: Prime Minister Elisabeth Domitien

Assumed power: 1975

6. Ethiopia

First modern* female leader: Empress Zewditu

Assumed power: 1916

* There is evidence of an Empress Candace in the fourth century B.C.E.

7. Haiti

First female leader: Provisional President Ertha Pascal-Trouillot

Assumed power: 1990

8. Lesotho

First female leader: Paramount Chief 'Mantsebo

Assumed power: 1941

9. Liberia

First female leader: President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf

Assumed power: 2006

10. Madagascar

First female leader: Queen Ranavalona I

Assumed power: 1828

11. Malawi

First female leader: President Joyce Banda

Assumed power: 2012

12. Rwanda

First female leader: Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana

Assumed power: 1993

13. Sao Tome and Principe

First female leader: Prime Minister Maria Das Neves

Assumed power: 2002

14. Senegal

First female leader: Prime Minister Mame Madior Boye

Assumed power: 2001

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14 Developing Countries Who Had Female Leaders Before the U.S.

It's time for the United States to join the rest of the world in electing a female president.

1. Angola

2. Bangladesh

3. Burundi

4. Cambodia

5. Central African Republic

6. Ethiopia

7. Haiti

8. Lesotho

9. Liberia

10. Madagascar

11. Malawi

12. Rwanda

13. Sao Tome and Principe

14. Senegal

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All names should be "unisex names."

1. Communicating via email can be awkward.

2. Appointments usually accompany weird looks.

3. Introducing yourself to someone is never without a hitch.

4. You’ve probably thought about changing your name.

5. You’re often asked why you have the name you do.

6. You get excited when you meet someone of your gender with your name.

7. You feel awkward when you meet someone of the opposite gender with your name.

8. You’ve had someone say to you, “I knew a [your name], but they were [your opposite gender].”

9. You’ve heard a bad joke/pick-up line or two about your name before.

10. People are surprised when they see you.

11. You’re extra sensitive to other unique or unisex names.

12. You’ve fought with your parents about it.

13. All things considered, you’re happy your name makes you unique.

You know that all of these things apply to you. You'll just never tell.

I get it... I'm pale.

1. At least I can't lose you in a crowd!

2. Oh my goodness your skin is like glow-in-the-dark.

3. Can't you just get fake tan?

4. Do you tan or just burn?

5. Your kids are going to look like Casper the Friendly Ghost!

6. *holds arm against your arm* Look how much darker I am compared to you!

7. *holds pale arm against another pale arm* Aw, at least you're darker than her!

8. I laid out by the pool almost every day over break!

9. I haven't used sunscreen since I was, like, five.

10. *adjusts selfie lighting to their face* Oops, where'd you go??

11. *after working out* Your face is SO red!

12. *wears white* Look! You're all one color!

13. You need to get some sun.

14. Aren't you excited for summer?

The struggle bus is real.

1. Child prodigies:

2. Hearing other musicians in the practice room next door and accepting that you will never be as talented as them:

3. That anxiety that takes over before every performance:

4. Taking a million 0 credit classes:

5. When there's a paper due the next day, but you have to attend yet another concert in order to pass a 0 credit class:

6. When your friends try to encourage you after a performance, even though you are criticizing everything in your mind:

7. Knowing that there's always that one professor during juries:

8. The oh-so-attractive band/choir uniforms:

9. Realizing that a college campus is maybe not the best atmosphere to finish your latest composition:

10. Hearing "Oh, you sing opera? I LOVE Phantom of the Opera!" for the hundredth time:

11. When people think finals week is a breeze for you.

12. When you're drowning in the stress that comes with 18+ credits (and not to mention all those 0 credit classes) and people ask you how you are:

13. When it all comes down to it, though, you know that at the end of the day, music is your passion:

Because you need it in your life.

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6. holds arm against your arm Look how much darker I am compared to you!

7. holds pale arm against another pale arm Aw, at least you're darker than her!

10. adjusts selfie lighting to their face Oops, where'd you go??

11. after working out Your face is SO red!

12. wears white Look! You're all one color!