Timeline of Women Leaders Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Timeline-of-Women-Leaders Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Timeline-of-Women-Leaders Written by Amy Tikkanen Amy Tikkanen is Managing Editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica. Amy Tikkanen Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Aug 29, 2024 • Article History Table of Contents Timeline of Women Leaders, Since early antisuffragists’ warnings of “petticoat governments,” women have faced sexism and other challenges when it comes to leading. In fact, fewer than one-third of the world’s countries have ever had a female leader. Who are these trailblazers? In the timeline below, discover some of the first women to head their countries, from Sirimavo Bandaranaike in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) to Angela Merkel in Germany. Also highlighted are female politicians who have made history in the United States, including the first woman to run for president and the first to serve as vice president. ...(100 of 97 words)

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