Chapter 37: Women's Leadership in the Middle East and North Africa

Zeina Zaatari

Women's leadership in the Middle East and North Africa From history textbooks of the Middle East and North Africa, usually students learn the historical stories of important women leaders. This history includes many civilizations, empires, and religions that have called the diverse parts of the Middle East and North Africa their home. Some of the women emerging from this region include Canaan goddesses such as Ishtar, goddess of love and fertility, and women leaders such as Alissar (or Elissa from Tyre in what is now known as Lebanon who founded Carthage in today's Tunisia); Zanubia, the queen of Tadmor (in Syria); the Queen of Sheba (in Yemen); Nefertiti, Cleopatra, and Hatshapsut, who ruled her people and convinced the world she was a god (Egypt); El Kahina, an indigenous leader (Algeria); Khadija, Mohammad's first wife, a well-known trader and the first believer in Mohammad's message; Mariam [Mary], Jesus's mother, who defied ...

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