Burkot added: "The Russian government is a textbook example of patriarchy"
Yeah, things would be so much better if women ruled the world...
Ranavalona I of Madagascar (1828-1861): Often cited as one of history's most brutal female leaders, she ruled with an iron fist to resist European influence. Her reign was marked by widespread use of forced labor, mass executions of political dissenters, and a judicial process involving a poisonous tangena nut ordeal, all of which contributed to the deaths of potentially half the island's population.
Empress Wu Zetian of China (624"705 AD): The only female emperor in Chinese history, Wu Zetian was a capable but famously ruthless ruler. She purged opponents mercilessly, including members of her own family, to consolidate power, using a secret police force and a climate of fear.
Mary I of England (1553"1558): Known to her Protestant opponents as "Bloody Mary," she earned her nickname through the fervent persecution of Protestants in her effort to restore Catholicism to England. Nearly 300 people were burned at the stake for their religious beliefs during her short reign.
Empress Dowager Cixi of China (1835-1908): As the de facto ruler of the late Qing Dynasty for nearly 50 years, Cixi was a powerful and manipulative figure. She ruthlessly eliminated anyone who threatened her grip on power, including potentially poisoning a young emperor, and is often blamed for exacerbating China's problems through her authoritarian and conservative rule.
Modern Political Figures
Indira Gandhi of India: Though initially a democratically elected Prime Minister, Gandhi assumed emergency powers between 1975 and 1977, effectively becoming a dictator. During this period, civil liberties were suspended, political opponents were imprisoned, and a controversial forced sterilization program was implemented.
Jiang Qing of China: Mao Zedong's fourth wife and a leading member of the "Gang of Four" during the Cultural Revolution. She wielded immense power and was a key figure in the brutal purges and political persecution of that era.
Elena Ceau'escu of Romania: As the wife of dictator Nicolae Ceau'escu, she accumulated significant political power and was widely despised by the Romanian public. She was heavily involved in the brutal suppression carried out by the regime's secret police, the Securitate.