Empress Wu: Evil Usurper?

She was insistent on keeping her power in the Qing dynasty, to the point of (being suspected of) killing others. Though this seems despotic, recent reports say that she was just like any other ruler, and was blamed for events that would also have occurred under any other’s rule. Perhaps the saying she was in the wrong place at the wrong time could be applicable. Why does she get so much blame when many of the other emperors from other dynasties had similar faults (and even larger ones – their whole dynasties fell, Cixi helped perpetuate the Qing dynasty until her death – as tumultuous as it may have been)? One could argue that it was because she did not have the Mandate of Heaven since she was not traditionally supposed to have any power; or, because she was a woman.

Kazuko, Ono. "Chinese Women in a Century of Revolution, 1850-1950." edited by Joshua A. Fogel, Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1989. Zheng, Wang. “Maoism, Feminism, and the UN Conference on Women: Women's Studies Research in Contemporary China.” Journal of Women's History 8, No.

Over a span of several decades, Wu Zetian inalterably changed life in China for woman as well the clergy and the poor. By doing so, she left a perpetual footprint on China’s long history that transcends the mere fact that she was the first woman to rule the “Red Dragon”. Wu Zetian was originally known as Wu Chao, born in 625 in Taiyuan in northern China. She adopted Wu Zetian when she seized the Chinese throne in 660. “Wu Zetian was a beautiful young woman…” (Knight 372).

Questia. Web. 2 Jan. 2012. Korabik, Karen. "Managerial Women in the People's Republic of China," International Studies of Management & Organization 23.4 (1993).

Women in traditional Chinese politics: the lives and careers of Empresses Lü, Wu, and Tzu-hsi. Han xue yan jiu 9.2 1991: 183-212. van Ess, Hans. Praise and Slander: The Evocation of Empress Lü in the Shiji and the Hanshu. NAN NÜ, Volume 8, Issue 2. 2006. pp 221 – 254.

The Oxford Encyclopedia of Women in World History: 4 Volume Set. Oxford University Press. p. 58 Spence. J., (1982). The Gate of Heavenly Peace: The Chinese and Their Revolutution.

Gender Differences in Advancing to the Top. International Journal Of Management Reviews, 1(2), 111. Tien, J.S. (1986). A Long and Winding Road: Chinese Women and Judith Stacey's Patriarchy and Socialist Revolution in China."

Few people recognized how essential women really were to the society because prostitutes affected the reputation of women in Ancient Rome, but those who did recognize this believed in the opportunities that the women offered. After careful thought and consideration, women were recognized as rational human beings for three leading reasons. Their vital role in the Roman society as well as within their households, notable performances in the workforce, and their praiseworthy behaviour are all major reasons why the Ancient Romans perceived the women as rational human beings. The fundamental role that Roman women played within the Roman society is the first reason as to why the women in ancient Rome were perceived as sensible human beings. Within Roman society the young women were constantly faced with several daunting tasks, having to face them after a sudden transition from a young girl to a mature woman.

Although at times she was a ruthless leader, she knew how to get the job done, and was a sufficient ruler during her time on the throne. After Wu Chao’s rule there seemed nothing that a woman could not do.

Later on Cleopatra dropped her brother’s name from all official documents and ruled alone by herself. She was a female ruler in e first female ruler ever in the time of all male rulers which makes her very important in history because she did that by her own choice and didn’t want to follow in her brothers footsteps. Cleopatra is important for so many reasons: first of all, she was the queen of Egypt which, in that time, was one of the most powerful kingdoms in the world. Second she wasn’t really an Egyptian, she was actually Greek. She was known for being one of the most beautiful women in the world and she used her sexuality as a weapon to get what she wanted for her throne, and also during the rest of her life to get more and more power for herself and Egypt.