The Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women October 7, 2010 Jill Forbes has released its list of the 100 most powerful women in the world — and the top ten includes four women of color and at least one lesbian.
I’d be more interested in this list if Forbes hadn’t felt the need to note the marital status of these “powerful” women, and whether they’ve had children. Or if these lists were consistent, regardless of gender, and they DID point of marital status and number of children for the most powerful men.
I’m really hating this top ten. The #1 slot goes to .. a woman with no accomplishments except being the wife of someone powerful? And why are Lady Gaga and Beyonce there? At least they had one of the many female heads of state in there somewhere in the top ten.
I’m really hating this top ten. The #1 slot goes to .. a woman with no accomplishments except being the wife of someone powerful? And why are Lady Gaga and Beyonce there? At least they had one of the many female heads of state in there somewhere in the top ten. Um, what? Michelle Obama has no accomplishments other than being a wife? Did you not get the memo about her incredibly successful legal career and her academic accomplishments? And the fact that as First Lady, she’s actually doing quite a bit of politicking, and putting issues like food access at the forefront?
I did like that they accurately place Sarah Palin in the “media” category instead of the “politics” category.
Really, Nancy Pelosi #11…Lady Gaga more powerful than Pelosi? What planet is Forbes living on? These lists are a great barometer for what our (male) culture values and esteems (interesting but depressing), but other than that not very helpful.
I definitely agree on Lady Gaga being in there. Wish the overall list was a little less US-centric, though.
I’m sure this list will generate a ton of page views for Forbes, but it’s hard to glean any meaningful insights from any of it. How is the First Lady of the United States more powerful than actual heads of government or heads of state?
Lady Gaga and Beyonce have more of an influence than you think. But I agree about Michelle Obama. She’s only first lady because she’s married to the president.
I agree that Obama should be lower on the list. But let’s get to the real controversy here: Lady Gaga is MORE powerful than Beyonce? I don’t buy it.
@whitters: I was prepared to be outraged about that too, but looking at the “400 richest Americans” (there doesn’t seem to be a “most powerful men” list), it seems they use the same profile there, on a list mostly consisting — surprise, surprise — of men.
Joe, first, there are plenty of people who become powerful because of the families they are born into or the associations they are lucky enough to have. It’s just that usually it’s men, so I guess that’s okay. As for no accomplishments? The woman is double ivy-league educated, worked her ass off on her husband’s campaign, and now serves as first lady to a country that routinely dismisses the job because it’s an unpaid position that women do. Second. Ledy Gaga. Say what you want about her, but when a man commandeers popular art, manufactures a performative identity for the public, and orchestrates an entire ‘factory’ to realize his ambition, he’s the greatest Pop artist of our time (Andy Warhol) but when a woman does much the same thing, you can’t understand why she’s on the list. Also, I love Beyonce. Love her.
Only 5% were lesbian or women of color? Boo. 5 of the top 10 were lesbian or women of color — so that’s 50% of the top slots. I didn’t do the math for the full 100.
That’s a bizarre list. Angela Merkel is the head of one of the most powerful countries in the world. She should be first.
Amazing that they call it the 100 most powerful women in the *world.* Does Forbes define “world” as USA?
“Wish the overall list was a little less US-centric, though. Natalia” Wish power were a little less US-centric. “he’s the greatest Pop artist of our time (Andy Warhol) but when a woman does much the same thing, you can’t understand why she’s on the list.” Yeah, but the point is either way they’re are still just pop artists, so what is either of then doing on a list of powerful people? Thinking of pop artists as powerful people comes right out of our celebrity-obsessed culture. Pop or commercial artists dance to whatever tune their fans call out. That’s not much power.
Medea: That’s a bizarre list.Angela Merkel is the head of one of the most powerful countries in the world.She should be first. Angela Merkel was first in 2008. I am not knowledgeable enough about first ladies to know why Michelle Obama beat her now and Laura Bush didn’t back then. By the way, how many women with disabilities are in the list? I bet none.
Jill: Um, what?Michelle Obama has no accomplishments other than being a wife?Did you not get the memo about her incredibly successful legal career and her academic accomplishments?And the fact that as First Lady, she’s actually doing quite a bit of politicking, and putting issues like food access at the forefront? I’m sorry, I misspoke. I didn’t mean to say she hasn’t accomplished anything on her own, but that nothing she’s accomplished has anything to do with her being on this list except being married to a president. And while I love Lady Gaga and Beyonce, are they really more powerful than, say, the prime minister of Iceland (#75)? I guess what I’m trying to say is that I wish this list looked a little more like “The Forbes 100 Most Powerful Men” than something compiled by Perez Hilton.
Amazing. Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, and now number 3 at the United Nations, is not on the list at all. I think Forbes need to read Chally’s “Dear USians on the Internet” post.
Wish power were a little less US-centric. Actually, I think it’s a case of Americans believing their own hype. Who actually has power in a given location on the world map is such a nebulous concept anyway – especially wherein real power often chooses to appear as though it exists on the sidelines. Lady Gaga is more visible than someone like Sheikha Lubna – who wields more power behind the scenes, though, is another matter entirely – for example. Yulia Tymoshenko didn’t win the Ukrainian election and isn’t even on this list – but I bet that her tangible influence on people’s lives is greater than Beyonce’s. Etc. Mikhail Prokhorov’s sister, Irina Prokhorova, is probably one of the most powerful women in Russia – but she never makes a big deal out of herself, so how would we know for certain? These lists are largely symbolic. And entertaining. And full of, let’s face it, myth-making.
Hmm. How are we defining power? If it has something to do with influence, then I don’t see how you can deny Lady Gaga, Beyonce, or Michelle Obama their spaces. A head of state can be powerless (think of lame duck — dislike this phrase — presidents, or even how much trouble Obama has had passing legislation that should have been no-brainers). I don’t know much about female heads of state aside from Merkel, and I agree that she should be much higher. Also, I agree that this list is incredibly US-centric.
Personally, I’m really happy to see a woman of color at number one. Being the first lady has given her more power, but she’s an impressive, intelligent woman who does alot of work on issues such as food access and healthy living.
Natalia: These lists are largely symbolic. And entertaining. And full of, let’s face it, myth-making. Natalia I think of them in the same vein as the “Top (insert number ending in 5 or 0)”…bands of the 80s…(American) football quarterbacks…restaurants in DC… They should come with a big red warning label that says: May cause head injuries if taken seriously. For entertainment purposes only.
Oh, and now having looked at the list in full, the first democratically-elected female head of state in Africa should be INFINITELY higher than 86. Sorry Team Iceland and so on above – Liberia got screwed.
Astrid: By the way, how many women with disabilities are in the list? I bet none. Have you gone through them all, or are you just making assumptions? Part of this may also depend on how you define “disability,” which is a vague and contestable concept. (How bad does your eyesight have to be for you to qualify as disabled?) A lot of these women are getting up in years and may have developed chronic health conditions that may or may not qualify as “disabilities” depending on how strict you are about definitions. I’ve tried googling some of them but it seems to be difficult to find information about their health or ability status because the results are dominated by hits about stuff they’ve done regarding health/disability.
Natalia: Lady Gaga is more visible than someone like Sheikha Lubna – who wields more power behind the scenes, though, is another matter entirely – for example. Yulia Tymoshenko didn’t win the Ukrainian election and isn’t even on this list – but I bet that her tangible influence on people’s lives is greater than Beyonce’s. Etc. Mikhail Prokhorov’s sister, Irina Prokhorova, is probably one of the most powerful women in Russia – but she never makes a big deal out of herself, so how would we know for certain? There is a diffnernece between degree of power and numbers of people you wield whatever influence over. It’s all fluff anyway. These lists are just entertainment, so yeah, they’re US-centric because that’s their audience. There’s nothing serious to discuss about them, but they can be fun. I think “myth-making” ascribes them more dignity than they deserve.
PrettyAmiable: Oh, and now having looked at the list in full, the first democratically-elected female head of state in Africa should be INFINITELY higher than 86. Sorry Team Iceland and so on above – Liberia got screwed. More importantly, head of government, as Liberia has a Presidential system. If she were just head of state she might not be very powerful at all. I don’t know much about Liberian politics, but the CIA World Factbook indicates that her party (the UP) holds a minority in the both houses of the legislature, which may significantly limit her power. I don’t know if the UP has a legislative coalition, but having to hold a coalition together is much more difficult than just governing with a majority. The CIAWF also describes the security situation as “fragile” and there are over 10,000 U.N. peacekeeping troops there (i.e. foreign troops she has no direct control over). Liberia is also very poor country (GDP per capita: US$400), and ruling a very poor country greatly limits your international influence. I don’t think being the first of anything should put you higher on a list of most powerful people either. Hillary Clinton isn’t any more or less powerful because she’s the third woman U.S. Secretary of State rather than the first. I think the list generally underrates government leaders and overrates celebrities (there are two pop stars more powerful than the Speaker of the House, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and three U.S. Supreme Court Justices? Seriously?), so I agree that President Johnson-Sirleaf should be considerably higher.
Jill: 5 of the top 10 were lesbian or women of color — so that’s 50% of the top slots.I didn’t do the math for the full 100. Ohh. I misread that. Thanks for clarifying! I take it back, that’s actually really awesome.
In some ways I think this list is a bit sad. A list of the world’s most powerful men would go something like this: 1) Barack Obama (POTUS) 2) David Cameron (PM of the UK) 3) Naoto Kan (PM of Japan) 4) Manmohan Singh (PM of India) 5) Hu Jintao (President of China) 6) Wen Jiabao (Premier of China) (the Chinese leaders would be higher except that the Chinese government has several different power centers with no truly central leader) 7) Vladimir Putin (PM of Russia) 8) Dmitry Medvedev (President of Russia) 9) Ben Bernanke (Chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve) 10) Jean-Claude Trichet (President of the European Central Bank) And so forth and so on. We could go through a bunch more Presidents, Prime Ministers, central bank heads, and leaders of powerful government ministries (State, Defense, Treasury) before we even got to Carlos Slim Helú (the world’s richest man and richest person). It’s a depressing comparison (to say nothing of how far down the list we’d have to go to find someone who was openly gay, trans, significantly* disabled when they acquired their position of power, etc.). * I will leave aside the question of how impaired someone has to be to be “significantly” disabled for this purpose.
I’m sorry, but I just have to address Jim at #19. Way to go for a complete fail at understanding art. Andy Warhol is one of the most influential artists ever, and Pop Art is the name of a movement. He’s not just a ‘pop’ or commercial artist, he subverted both concepts. And Lady Gaga? She may well do the same.
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf took a ridiculously corrupt government and is slowly turning it around. I think there’s infinitely more power in that than in speaking out against DADT on Monday only to have it struck down by Congress on Tuesday. Having a massive impact on the daily lives of 4 million people is a lot more impressive to me than probably 50% of the accomplishments of the women ahead of her on the list. Huge impact on 4 million versus a minor impact on a number much higher than that? Shrug.
I’m sorry, but this list is definitly US-centric. What about Kristina Kirschner? I bet she has more power than Beyonce. And, beeing an European girl, I can tell you than here, Carla Bruni has much more power than lady Gaga. So well, this list presents the most powerful women in the world, but according to the US and from an US point of view. Which is highly subjective: If a French or an Argentine person was to do the same exercise, their ladies would clearly come first.
By the way, how many women with disabilities are in the list? I bet none. I can see what you’re saying here Astrid but I wouldn’t be so sure. You can’t tell by looking at me that I have at least 2 major “invisible” disabilities. And a lawyer touches on some not as noticeable physical* disabilities like chronic pain. You could be completely right, of course, but until the stigma against all kinds of disabilities goes the way of the dinos we won’t really know for sure. *off topic pet peeve: I hate that mental is considered seperate from physical. My brain is a fucking part of my body society! And you can’t tell me I don’t have a physical disability when I’m curled up in the fetal position, shaking and nauseous and light feels like it’s stabbing me when I get a migraine, or when I can’t bring myself to move and my whole body aches when I’m having a major depressive episode that last for days or weeks. bah, I say.
“Did you not get the memo about her incredibly successful legal career and her academic accomplishments? And the fact that as First Lady, she’s actually doing quite a bit of politicking, and putting issues like food access at the forefront?” -Jill I’m not denying she’s an intelligent woman with some influence and that people can look up to… but lots of women have successful legal careers and have excelled academically. Some politicking, and tackling very mainstream-acceptable issues like food access… I don’t really see anything that would put her in the top 10, let alone #1. Something that has always bothered me about Michelle is, if she’s just as accomplished a lawyer and politician as her husband, how come *she* didn’t run for president?
Jill: Michelle Obama has no accomplishments other than being a wife? Did you not get the memo about her incredibly successful legal career and her academic accomplishments? Do you seriously think Michelle LaVaughn Robinson, with her academic accomplishments and her incredibly successful legal career and a job in the White House politicking and putting issues like food access at the forefront, would be Number One on a list of 100 most powerful women in America, let alone a list that supposedly is 100 of the most powerful women in the world? She’s number one because of whose wife she is – not because of her own personal accomplishments, tremendous though those are. This list is just depressing. Are we still telling little girls “Honey, you can succeed too – grow up and marry a successful man?”
No, I don’t think she would be on that list without being First Lady. But a lot of powerful men wouldn’t be powerful either without family connections or unearned wealth or unearned access to power. Why are we so much more critical when it’s a woman who marries a man who then becomes powerful versus, say, the various Bush children who have become powerful and wealthy because of their family connections?
Why are we so much more critical when it’s a woman who marries a man who then becomes powerful versus, say, the various Bush children who have become powerful and wealthy because of their family connections? How is it being critical of Michelle Obama to note that she’s considered more powerful than Angela Merkel or Nancy Pelosi or Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir or Julia Gillard (or Oprah Winfrey or J. K. Rowling or Elisabeth Murdock or Madonna) not because of anything she personally has done, but because she’s married to the President of the United States? If it’s true that because Barack Obama is the most powerful man in the world, the wife of the most powerful man in the world is the most powerful woman in the world, this is an indictment of the system whereby women still can’t gain power unless they get married to a man who has it. Or possibly, it’s just not true: Maybe Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir has more direct personal power than Michelle Obama does, but Forbes is incapable of evaluating women who run for office and get elected as even the equals – let alone the superiors – of women who marry men who run for office. Either way, interpreting this as a personal attack on Michelle Obama, rather than as an occasion to discuss why women can’t be recognised as powerful in our own right but only by the power of the man a woman marries, seems a little off, from a feminist blogger.
Angela Merkel is more powerful then all of these. She should be number 1. Germany is the fourth biggest economy in the world, and the undisputed leader of the EU. Germany pretty much leads the EU(of course not de jure), which is 500 million people and the strongest economic block in the world. Yes far greater GDP than USA and 3x times bigger than China Especially these days, after the financial crisis pretty much all the other EU countries took up loans with security in the EURO, and germany is the main security of the EURO. Germany was the only country that didn’t fuck that up. So the others are like dogs under Germany atm and has to form their economy under EU(germany’s) terms.