A few months ago, there has been an innovation in German history: A female Federal Chancellor had been elected. Angela Merkel is the first woman since the existence of the Federal German Republic supposed to rule the country. From the very beginning, when her election campaign started, this meant hard work for her.
First, when she still was chairwoman of the CDU, she had a rather masculine and unkempt appearance as well as image, for which many people made fun of her. But for her election campaign, she suddenly started changing this image. On the election posters, you could see a neat and smiling Angela Merkel. Considering this, one is tempted to assume that this changing of image helped her to achieve her election victory and that a feminine image is generally helpful for succeeding at political level.
But does this mean that female rulers are better rulers? Are supposedly typical female properties like empathy, intuition and benignity better premises for ruling a country than strictness and the ability to assert oneself? Or are women who rule only poor copies of male rulers? I will especially examine this in the history of Britain, where for centuries there has been a long tradition of male as well as female rulers.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Typical Female Properties
- British Queens
- Queen Mary I
- Biographical Facts
- Reflection
- Queen Elizabeth I
- Biographical Facts
- Reflection
- Queen Mary II
- Biographical Facts
- Reflection
- Queen Anne
- Biographical Facts
- Reflection
- Queen Victoria
- Biographical Facts
- Reflection
- Queen Elizabeth II
- Biographical Facts
- Reflection
- Queen Mary I
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This work examines the influence of femininity on the governmental qualities of British queens. It explores whether traditionally perceived female traits, such as empathy and gentleness, lead to more successful governance compared to male rulers. The text analyses the reigns of key British queens, focusing on their biographies, policies, and the extent to which their femininity affected their ruling style.
- The role of female traits in leadership
- The impact of gender stereotypes on historical perceptions of rulers
- The influence of religion on political policy
- The challenges faced by female monarchs in a male-dominated society
- The role of female monarchs in shaping British history
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter introduces the topic of female rulers and raises the question of whether women are inherently better leaders due to their supposed feminine qualities. It highlights the historical context of the study, focusing on the rise of Angela Merkel as the first female Chancellor of Germany.
- Typical Female Properties: This chapter explores the traditional gender roles and characteristics attributed to men and women. It examines how these societal expectations influence perceptions of leadership qualities, suggesting that women are often associated with traits like empathy and gentleness, while men are viewed as more assertive and aggressive.
- British Queens: This chapter provides an overview of the reigns of key British queens, starting with Mary I and ending with Elizabeth II. It sets the stage for the subsequent chapters by introducing the historical context and highlighting the importance of female monarchs in British history.
- Queen Mary I: This chapter focuses on the life and reign of Mary I, highlighting her Catholic faith and its influence on her policies. It explores the challenges she faced as a female ruler in a predominantly Protestant nation, particularly in the context of her father's establishment of Protestantism in England.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Key terms and concepts explored in this work include: British queens, femininity, leadership, gender stereotypes, historical context, religious influence, political policy, female monarchs, British history, Mary I, Elizabeth I, Mary II, Anne, Victoria, Elizabeth II.
- Quote paper
- Sabine Jessica Stackmann (Author), 2006, British Queens - Better Rulers?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/74726
