Finessing the Pharaohs

Hatshepsut was the first female ruler of Egypt. During her reign, the Egyptians believed that as a female ruler she had put maat, the most important balance of Egypt in danger. Golda Meir, the first female Israeli Prime Minister, was thought to put the country in danger at the beginning of her leadership. In this essay I will compare, contrast and analyze how these two female leaders helped their countries succeed, and were successful in maintaining and conceiving maat.

Hatshepsut and Golda Meir have many traits in common. The first similarity between the two leaders is that they were both the first females to have such an important and high job in their countries. Hatshepsut as the first female Pharaoh of Egypt, and Golda Meir as the first female Israeli Prime Minister. Although both women were great leaders, the difference between them here was that for Hatshepsut, she became a strong leader in a land where women did not have many rights. In comparison, Golda Meir became a strong leader in a state where women had rights and were important. However, Hatshepsut had an easier ladder to climb to reach Pharaoh standard because she was already a "temporary Pharaoh". In contrast, Golda Meir started as a secretary of the Women's Labor Union, then rose to become foreign minister, and then prime minister. The advantages and disadvantages to these two women balance each other out and therefore the way they rose to the status that they achieved is similar.

During Hatshepsuts leadership, the Egyptians believed that she would put maat in danger because she was the first female pharaoh. Hatshepsut displayed many traits of determination, courage, and the drive to prove herself. This was important to her in many ways. It helped her fight and not listen to the doubts that everyone had about her, and although Hatshepsut proclaimed herself a man, she still had to fight hard, but never doubted herself. Similarly, Golda Meir was thought to ruin Israel if she became Prime Minister.