Vigdís Finnbogadóttir (1930 - )
Icelandic politician, French teacher and artistic director
of the Reykjavík Theatre Company. In 1980, she ran for
President of Iceland to prove that women were able to lead
political campaigns. She faced a barrage of ignorant and
insulting questions and assumptions due to being female.
She did not expect to win, but she did.
First woman to serve as President of Iceland, she held that
position for 16 years (1980 - 1996). This made her the
first woman in the world to be democratically elected as
president of a country, as well as the longest serving
elected female head of state in history.
16 years!
ReplyDeleteWell, there you have it.
And all we got was Jabba the Hutt with dementia.
XOXO
Yay for her. I'm so tired of wonderful women having to rise above ignorant and insulting questions. But still she rose!
ReplyDeleteI looked her up and see that she was a theatre director. Nice to have a politician come from the arts for a change.
ReplyDeleteLeading with grace and dignity. Thank you, Madame President, for showing the way.
ReplyDelete16 year is a long time. I don't really remember her. I will have to google what was going on then.
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame that sexist ignorance is not just an American thing...
ReplyDeleteI had no idea she had to endure such dumb and personal questions.
ReplyDelete