Does anyone have an example of a successful female led society?

[Vegasrunner]

[Syntosi]

While its somewhat of a fucked up country, its probably useful as an example because of peoples views of it. In other words, the male power fantasy nation of Sparta was pretty much entirely ran by women. Why? Because of inheritance laws and the economy. While the men went out and died on the fields of battle, their worldly possessions back home transferred to their wives. The rich upper-class became dominated and controlled by women who in turn manipulated politics.

This is especially true if these widows re-married and started to collect the inheritance from multiple dead husbands.

So while technically Sparta was controlled by men, the actual power and wealth was held by women who used these assets to control the men who in turn controlled Sparta. Its an interesting story of unintended consequences since this was never how it was supposed to work. Men was supposed to control Sparta but because of the way their laws were written this was steadily corrupted until women came out on top and pretty much only because they were discriminated against.

[Shiprex]

Sparta wasn't RUN by women but women did have much greater power but there were also slaves. One could say the FAMILY HOME is a space where women have most power but then it will be told that it's still men who run that in spite of the lived reality of most homes being based on women's styling choices and management.

[Syntosi]

@Shiprex Spartan society was run by women and women controlled Spartan politics through their influence and wealth. Yes Sparta was ran by women in everything but name. There are plenty of examples where the women went explicitly against the kings of Sparta and won.

[RavVid]

You need to be clear in defining led. Does this mean a successful female leader or does it mean some form of matriarchy?

There are lots of instances of successful female leaders but probably more of unsuccessful ones. The UK has had three female prime ministers. Theresa May and Liz Truss. They were failures. Liz Truss spectacularly so.

Margaret Thatcher was a failure in that her Prime Minister-ship was terminated but than most are terminated by their own party or the voters so you have to rate her a success.

So the UK has 1 in 3 rate of successful female leaders.

There seems to be some concept female leaders would be different. Really? Thatcher started a war, busted unions and privatized socialized industries.

If you define successful leaders as strong leaders who take their country down a necessary but painful path, you may find little difference in those rare leaders other than gender.

[Anonymous]

The British Empire at the height of its power.

The Chinese empire has been led by women in the past as has Spain in around and b4 columbus. Egypt was very successful under Cleopatra

[RavVid]

I expect you are referring to Queen Victoria wrt the British Empire. A mistake many make is to think a monarch rules in other than a titular sense. The British Glorious Revolution in 1680 put an end to that. Yes, Britain had a Revolution before the American Revolution and the Americans were just copy cating with theirs..

By Queen Victoria, the Monarch was a figure head and couldn't be said to lead Certainly there was a lot of influence as Monarch but it was Parliament leading. It is a gross distortion to say Britain (really UK) was led by a woman.

Cleopatra enjoyed some personal success becuse she was good at hooking up with powerful men when it comes down to it. At best Cleopatra deferred the Roman take over of Egypt by embracing it. in bed. You would do better choosing an earlier female Pharaoh than Cleopatra.

You are on better ground with Isabella as she maintained rule of Castile as her husband Ferdinand was King of Arragon. The joint rule was highly successful with the two working well as a married couple. Isabella seemed mostly on domestic affairs whilst Ferdinand focused on war. and diplomacy.

You can say Isabella led Castille but it is not true she lead Spain. She didn't lead Reconquista armies, unlike Ferdinand who had considerable martial talent.

It would be more accurate to say this was a couple led society rather than a male or female led society.

[Opinion Owner]

@RavVid the glorious revolution put a woman in charge. Queen Victoria kept her choosen prime minister in charge. Even now in Australia, Canada, new Zealand and Britain the British monarch can dismiss their goverments if there are laws or policies he doesn't like.
Queen Anne the 2nd had enough power to have high officials arrested.
Celopatra hooked up with Julius Caesar for sure but he was away and dead for a long time. She was the power behind Mark Anthony especially after his failure in the east.
The reconquest of same was nearly complete by the time of isabella. Monarchs at the time had generals fighting the wars.
There is also Catherine the great.

[DryGermanGuy]

I have heard repeatedly that despite the political/religious power being in the hands of men, in family life and parts of business life the Iranian women have a lot of power.

[OneViewpoint]

Gee, a world history of Patriarchy for millenia and a dearth of female led societies. Gee, a huge mystery. What could possibly account for that?

[jshm2]

Sure. UK, and Pakistan off the top of my head. But there are plenty of others.

[Vegasrunner]

@jshm neither of those are female run societies.

[DrPepper12]

Most Algonquin societies, scandanvia, some sub Saharan African societies.

Give women the same timeline and they'll succeed just fine

[SotiCoto]

Does anyone have an example of an UNsuccessful female-led society?

[Vegasrunner]

@SotiCoto Everyone that has been attempted

[Anonymous]

Yes - Ancient Amazons ;)

[Vegasrunner]

@Anonymous Where are they now?

[Opinion Owner]

Well, if I had the Time Machine, I would bring them in the 21st century.

[Vegasrunner]

@Opinion owner Time for you to start living in reality.

[Opinion Owner]

100 years ago, space ships were just a science fiction, but in 21st century, we have them... so it's only a matter of time when someone invents the time machine.

[Vegasrunner]

@Opinion owner No wonder you're a virgin.

[Opinion Owner]

Because I know a lot about science?
Or because I'm not into fat girls... you know - like you :P

[Vegasrunner]

@Opinion owner Because you live in delusion.

[Opinion Owner]

You like in illusion that fat girls are "hot" :P

[Stevepro68]

How would you define successful, and or a society?

[Vegasrunner]

@Stevepro68 It still exsist to this day.

[wynning]

New Zealand

[Shiprex]

Bee hives

[WonderingManII]

Got no idea.