Melissa writes:

In reflecting on women leaders such as Queen Victoria, I would like to add that there is more to the “Pharaoh-ess” Hatshepsut. She did not rule as Pharaoh but as Regent to Thutmose III, the legitimate ruler, after the death of their father, Thutmose II. Her memory was all but erased by her brother when he assumed absolute rule in the 23d year of his reign, presumably after her death. Whatever may be said about her, it is an important distinction that she was actually a regent for a pharaoh rather than a pharaoh herself.

There have been rare female military leaders, notably Joan of Arc and the Hebrew Judge, Deborah. Each was more of an ideological leader and encouraged and rallied the troops without really fighting in battle. They were the personification of “a girl worth fighting for”. They pointed to the truth and brought the men they led to see, understand, and appreciate it. This is not to belittle their critical roles, but rather an attempt to be intellectually honest about those roles. It is only logical that their roles were necessarily ideological because they could not be physical. While it may happen on occasion that there is a single women who can physically best a single man, it is not the standard. Warriors epitomize masculinity and all the elements of the manifold identity, and as such no woman could best them as a category. Honesty is necessary. But that does not mean that women do not undertake a comparable burden in building society.
 
Without women, those warriors would be dark men living in caves, eating raw meat, and lacking any compassion for their fellows in other caves. Women birth children, keep homes, cultivate society and give to men guidance that they may protect these,  with their lives if necessary. This is where and how we lead as women, and Queen Victoria knew it. She appreciated the gravity of her responsibility to lead a nation in this way, as do I.

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