Children Quote by Toby A.H. Wilkinson
““Even when portrayed as a man, Hatshepsut often used grammatically feminine epithets, describing herself as the daughter (rather than son) of Ra, or the lady (rather than lord) of the Two Lands. The tension between male office and female officeholder was never satisfactorily resolved. Little wonder that Hatshepsut’s advisers came up with a new circumlocution for the monarch. From now on, the term for the palace, per-aa (literally “great house”), was applied also to its chief inhabitant. Peraa—pharaoh—now became the unique designation of the Egyptian ruler. While””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Woman Who Would Be King, 2018
The passage describes how Hatshepsut navigated gendered language to legitimize her rule, revealing the complexities of female authority in ancient Egypt.
In simple terms: She used feminine titles to assert power, showing gender dynamics in rulership.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge language’s role in shaping power perception.
Themes
gender
leadership
language
history
Mood
reflective
inquisitive
Type
historical
educational
When to use this quote
- historical analysis
- gender studies
- leadership training
Key Concepts
feminist theory
political legitimacy
identity construction
Questions to Reflect On
- How does language influence authority today?
- What other strategies did women use to claim power?
A Different Perspective
Modern readers may project contemporary gender ideas onto ancient contexts.
