Baranamtarra
Hatshepsut
Puduhepa
Kandake Amanitore
Himiko
Boudicca
the Trung Sisters
Dahia al-Kahina
Lubluban
Makeda-be
Tomyris
Ruwej
Sondok of Silla
Lakkadevi
Judith the Fire
Mama Huaco
Abla Pokou
Nanyehi
María Candelaria
Cécile Fatiman
Gabriella Silang
Sarrouania of Azna
Maria Stewart
the Rani of Jhansi
Louise Michel
Lozen
Nehanda Nyakasikana
Qiu Chin
Niuta Teilelboim
Lillian Ngoya
women's power
This presentation surveys female spheres of power across history and around the world. Although modern culture treats these spheres as discrete categories, they overlap considerably in many cultures.
Political Power: leaders, chieftains, queens
Social power: clan mothers, culture-makers, elders
Economic power: sustainers of the life-support network
Religious power: priestesses, seers, shamans
Medicine women, herbalists, healers, midwives
Artists, Poets, Musicians
Even in societies that restricted the "proper" female sphere, women found ways to assert their creativity and subvert social norms, sometimes in spite of severe consequences.
Leaders of social justice movements and rebellions
Musicians and poets who acted as social consciences -- or simply pursued their own vision.
These pages are under construction: please visit again for more ...
Bronze statue of young woman.
Benin culture, 16th century.