5 Presidents and Prime Ministers Who Just So Happen to Be Women

Impact

In honor of Monday's President's Day, let's pay homage to the world's current female presidents and prime ministers. Here's hoping we can add the U.S. to this list in the near future.

1. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia

Ellen Johnson is the first woman president of Liberia and the first woman to lead an African country in recent history. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 for promoting peace and gender equality.

2. President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner of Argentina

Cristina Kirchner is the first elected woman president of Argentina. Kirchner was a lawyer and then senator before becoming president.

3. Portia Simpson-Miller, Prime Minster of Jamaica

Simpson's political career spans 35years. She has worked as a member of parliament, vice president of the People's National Party, and president of the People's National Party Women's Movement, among other things.

4. President Laura Chinchilla of Costa Rica

Laura Chinchilla is the first female president of Costa Rica. In 2006, Chinchilla was the vice president and minister of justice before becoming president in 2010.

5. President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil

Dilma Rousseff worked as chief of staff and energy minister under a former Brazilian president before becoming the first female president of Brazil in 2011.

As we think about President's Day in the U.S. and celebrate (that might be too strong a word, but you know what I mean) the first American president's birthday, it's important to remember that the title of president doesn't always mean "man".