Whether they served as powerful elected officials or as important figureheads behind the scenes, women have been key members of government since the dawn of time. Here are several influential women throughout history who shaped politics today as we know it.
The first wife of King Henry VIII and the Queen of England from 1509-1533, Catherine of Aragon served as a warning to all women that having a baby will kill your career.
Adams, famous for her outspoken support of women’s rights and the anti-slavery movement, was primarily known for being married to President John Adams, who supported none of her causes.
Reigning over England for 63 years, Queen Victoria firmly established that one of the most efficient ways for a woman to attain political power was to be born into it and then not die for a very long time.
A pivotal figure in the women’s suffrage movement, Anthony made the unforgivable mistake of fighting for everyone’s, including white women’s, right to vote.
The United States’ first female senator may have only served for one day, but she accomplished as little as most senators do in a lifetime.
A labor organizer and radical socialist, surprisingly, Parsons was never executed or assassinated.
The first female Prime Minister of Israel, Meir initially immigrated to Palestine to escape life in Milwaukee.
The first Minister of Justice in the People’s Republic of China, Shi Liang lived through the Cultural Revolution, two World Wars, the regime of Chiang Kai-shek, and has a Wikipedia biography that is 67 words long.
Gandhi served as Prime Minister of India from 1966 until 1977, again from 1980 until her assassination in 1984, and will serve a third time upon her miraculous return from the afterlife in 2023 until 2028.
Historians are pretty sure Nancy Reagan was president for at least the bulk of 1987 and 1988.
The California senator became the first female mayor of San Francisco after a couple of assassinations broke her way.
Inspired women everywhere with her prolific judicial career, which truthfully maybe should have ended a few years sooner.
The first female president of the Philippines is commemorated on their 500-piso banknote and will probably be the answer to a crucial Jeopardy! question that causes you to lose thousands of American dollars.
The first woman to become speaker of the House and third in line for the presidency, Pelosi once destroyed Newt Gingrich in a best-out-of-three arm wrestling match, leading to his retirement.
The first former first lady to successfully win election to the Senate, Hillary Clinton is best remembered for single-handedly reenergizing the Republican party to continued electoral success.
Chancellor since 2005, Merkel’s diligent, pragmatic leadership style has made the world almost too comfortable with the idea of Germany taking control of Europe.
As the GOP’s first woman Vice Presidential nominee, Sarah Palin broke barriers by decisively proving that anyone—literally fucking anyone—can be tapped as their party’s presidential running mate.
The sister of dictator Kim Jong-un plays an influential role in the North Korean government and has risen high enough in the ranks to be the next family member in line to be executed by her brother.
This current prime minister of New Zealand has been hailed for her successful handling of the coronavirus as well as her delightfully charming accent that would distract from a genocide if she ever wanted to carry one out.
Girlfriend of Riley Roberts, current head of marketing for HomeBinder.com.