Via Feministing, check this lovely headline about the identification of the mummy of Hatshepsut, who was one of a handful of female Pharaohs and whose reign was considered one of the most successful of the queens regnant in Ancient Egypt:
Mummy Reveals Egyptian Queen Was Fat, Balding and Bearded
Oh noes! But it gets better:
More startling, the descriptions of Hatshepsut suggest that women haven’t changed all that much over the centuries.
Turns out, Hatshepsut was no Cleopatra. Instead, she was a 50-year-old fat lady; apparently she used her power over the Upper and Lower Nile to eat well and abundantly. Archaeologists also claim that she probably had diabetes, just like many obese women today.
What a surprise that someone rich and powerful would have a lot to eat, and display that wealth by becoming fat. And, oh noes! She aged! How dare she!
Cleopatra, incidentally, was no great beauty either — but she *was* tremendously smart and charismatic, which drew powerful men to her and helped her consolidate her hold on power.
Hatshepsut also suffered from what all women over 40 need—a stylist. She was balding in front but let the hair on the back of her head to grow really long, like an aging female Dead Head with alopecia.
This Queen of Egypt also sported black and red nail polish, a rather Goth look for someone past middle age.
Presumably, this writer means to say that Hatshepsut suffered from lack of a stylist, though for all we know this was the big hot look for Pharaohs back in the day. But way to project all your own anxieties about aging and beautification onto the freakin’ King of Upper and Lower Egypt. And about that “King” thing –
To underscore her position of power, Hatshepsut often wore the complete regalia of a male pharaoh, including a false beard. Some speculate she actually liked wearing men’s clothing, and so what?
Maybe men’s clothing was more comfortable and better made — just like today. In any event, she was freakin’ Pharaoh. She could wear whatever she damn well wanted.
I don’t know how things were in Ancient Egypt, but it’s quite clear that today, female leaders will always be judged by their looks. But of course, there’s a double bind — can’t be too pretty, or you won’t be taken seriously, but you can’t be old, fat and/or ugly, either. Being 3500 years old and having your own burial complex won’t help you with that catch-22.
I wonder what they made of her back then? Or what they would make of what people were saying about her right now?
Amazing, still trying to understand her first in terms of her looks rather than history. One might have thought they would make some effort to put it in a more historical / sociological context. But no.
I don’t think it was a matter of getting her kicks. The only way a woman could be pharoah was by declaring that she was a man (regents could be women, but regents could be replaced). Pharoahs were men and wore beards, Hatshepsut was a man and wore a beard.
Also, in the sense she’s clearly intending, Cleopatra was no Cleopatra either.
Hard to believe with all the juicy material available on this woman’s life this was the best tabloid story the writer could come up with.
I’ve see this story reported in a few different places. It amazes me that editors don’t read through these things and take out the sexist crap that fills the tale. Then again, there wouldn’t be much left of it. Someone might actually have to go out and report on her feats rather than her looks.
So when they discovered that the mummy of Ramses I was sitting in a small museum in Niagara Falls, they spent a lot of time talking about his physical appearance and how it relates to today’s beauty standards for men, right? Right? Because otherwise you’d have a pretty naked double standard sitting out there making you look like a shallow asshole.
I actually watched the Discovery Channel special on Hatshepsut, and was struck that she was erased from history so her daughter would not inherit the throne — Thutmos III wanted to ensure that Neferure would not succeed to the throne. One queen was bad; two might get a trend going.
Strangely, other than to reflect on what a fascinating and strong woman Hatshepsut must have been to reign over the most powerful nation in the world for two decades, at a time when women were devalued as humans (as opposed to now, when women are devalued as humans), and to be somewhat glad that her body has been identified so it can be given the proper reverence due a Pharaoh, I didn’t really think much beyond it. I mean, Hatshepsut managed to rule a nation for 22 years. Who cares if she didn’t have great hair?
I absolutely love how they project modern beauty and living standards onto those living thousands of years ago. Of COURSE she didn’t look good - the average lifespan was THIRTY. There was no soap, no regular bathing, no toothpaste, nothing. Not to mention the sheer amounts of bad hygiene and disease. Everyone would look horrific by our standards, for heaven’s sake.
But why bother about that? Let’s just giggle and titter about their lack of style like idiots. As if those in the future won’t be doing it us someday.
You see this sort of thing a lot when a reporter is covering something that he doesn’t consider to be news. There’s a desperation to appear clever, and when dull people try to be clever they often resort to stereotyping. You can see this phenomenon a lot if you watch sitcoms or grade-B comedies.
“Of COURSE she didn’t look good - the average lifespan was THIRTY. There was no soap, no regular bathing, no toothpaste, nothing. Not to mention the sheer amounts of bad hygiene and disease.”
Yeah, what with the, I dunno, SCARCITY OF WATER and everything, personal hygiene was not up to 20th/21st century standards. And at that, the Egyptians were considered fairly fussy for the time frame…. At least we know for a fact that she worn makeup and did her nails. So she wasn’t a *complete* schlub.
Let’s not forget the STINKING HOT weather in North Africa/the Middle East, the perfumed fat cones that were worn on the head (and melted, dripping down the body to scent it), and the body parasites (hence the shaved heads leading to wigs for the upper classes.). Yikes! There was a reason even the male Pharaohs wore false beards, and not just because the Egyptians were a little obsessed with things fitting into certain forms. Facial hair can harbor body lice, and they actually cared about that. (Unlike MY ancestors.)
But let’s not let actual historical facts get in the way of bashing on a woman’s appearance. I need to see if the History/Discovery channel special is going to be repeated. And then hope it’s not as repetitive as the one on Boadicca. (And now, to recap what we’ve just been talking about before the break! For the second time!)
All in all, really irritating that an amazingly powerful (and intelligent, to even be able to get there and hang onto her throne for 22 years) woman is being dissed for not holding up to ridiculous beauty standards from many hundreds of years in her *future*. She was a Pharaoh — in the eyes of the culture, a GOD. Don’t judge god by your pesky mortal standards, eh?