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. Everyone thought that because Israel was such a small country, and had so many strong enemy bordering countries it would fail with a women as a leader. Golda Meir had to prove them wrong. The main difference here is that Hatshepsut pretended to be a man, and was portrayed in statues and pictures as a man, whereas Golda Meir was no doubt a women. The main similarity between the two is that they both had to fight for their place, and proved that it was possible for a women to be a good leader.
Furthermore, Hatshepsut and Golda Meir both were leaders that cared for their people and country. They both made sure that the living circumstances were as best possible, and also cared for the environment. Hatshepsut made sure that the people were ok, and then also improved trade, and transportation. However, while Hatshepsut works also with the environment and the Nile, Golda Meir had almost her whole career based on people, also when she worked as a secretary. This shows that it is important to take care of the people as well as the environment, and only when both are in good condition, can living conditions be improves. Also, another similarities between the two is that they both had dreams, Hatshepsut that she would be sole ruler of Egypt and improve it almost to perfection, and Golda Meir had a dream of Zionist, which was to develop the State of Israel, and keep it in perfect balance.
In conclusion this essay has shown that Hatshepsut and Golda Meir had many simialarities and differences when they ruled and were keeping up maat. Both had a unique but similar style in which they succeeded in fulfilling their dreams, and improving or helping their countries. Hatshepsut and Golda Meir are recognized and remembered in traditions, government, and history, in which two women each with a dream in mind overruled the men, and overcame all doubts that women are not good leaders and that would destroy maat. I consider both very helpful leaders, and certainly hope that there are many more people like them with determination and courage, ready to face all odds for the leading of a country.