Cover of Girls Who Grew Up to Lead Their Countries

Book 1 in the For My Daughter series

Girls Who Grew Up to Lead Their Countries

The True Stories of 15 Current and Recent Women Presidents and Prime Ministers

By C. Berman. For readers 12 and up.

Discussion guide

The questions from the end of every chapter, in one place, for families, classrooms and book clubs. There are no right answers; the point is to think.

1. The Scientist Who Said Her Own Name

Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico

Think about it: Which of these arguments would you want more evidence on before deciding what you think?

  1. The dancer or the physicist. After 13 years of ballet, Claudia gave it up for physics. Have you ever had to choose between two things you loved? How did you decide?
  2. Blame. When the school collapsed in her borough, Claudia said she wasn’t responsible. Many people disagreed. When something goes wrong on a leader’s watch, how much of it is her fault?

Your turn: What two interests would you hate to choose between? Could they actually help each other?

2. The Physicist Who Went to the Sauna

Angela Merkel, Germany

Think about it: Angela was famous for being careful and avoiding big dramatic moves. When is caution a strength in a leader, and when can it become a weakness?

  1. The Stasi’s offer. Two secret police officers ask you to spy on your friends. Saying no could hurt your career. Angela found a clever way out. What would you have said?
  2. Breaking with Kohl. Your mentor, the person who gave you every opportunity, has done something wrong. Do you speak up publicly, knowing it could end your career? Angela did.

Your turn: Angela chose physics because no government could change its rules. What subject or activity do you love because it’s honest and fair?

3. The Doctor Who Took Command

Michelle Bachelet, Chile

Think about it: Michelle had personal reasons to hate the military. Instead, she chose to understand it and lead it. Is it possible to work with people connected to someone who hurt you? Should you have to?

  1. Stay or go. After her father’s death, Michelle and her mother stayed in Chile and secretly carried messages for the resistance, knowing it could get them arrested. Would you have stayed?
  2. The enemy’s world. Years later, she chose to study the military, the institution whose officers had held her father. Why do you think she did it? Would you?

Your turn: Is there something that scares you that you could learn more about, so it has less power over you?

4. The Girl Who Balanced the Books

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberia

Think about it: Can a leader do great things and also make serious mistakes? How should history judge someone like that?

  1. Leaving. At about 23, Ellen left her four young sons with relatives to study in America. It gave her the education that shaped her life, and it cost her years with her children. Was it the right choice? Could you have made it?
  2. The wrong side. Ellen wanted a dictator gone so badly that she backed a rebel who turned out to be worse. How can you tell when “the enemy of my enemy” is not really a friend?

Your turn: Ellen’s first job was keeping the books for a car-repair shop. What small skill you have now might turn out to matter more than you expect?

5. The Cameras in the Exam Room

Maia Sandu, Moldova

Think about it: The EU referendum passed because of votes from Moldovans living abroad, while a majority of voters inside the country said no. Should people who have left a country get an equal vote on its future? What do you think?

  1. The exam room. You’re the education minister. You know cheating is everywhere, and ending it will make thousands of families angry at you. Do you do it?
  2. Going home. You have a good job in Washington, and most young people from your country are leaving. Do you stay abroad, or go home to try to fix things?

Your turn: Have you ever seen cheating or unfairness at school? What would it take to fix it, and would you be willing to speak up?

6. The Student Who Failed Economics

Judith Suminwa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Think about it: Judith became prime minister in the middle of a war she didn’t start. How should we judge a leader who takes over in a crisis? By whether she solves it, or by how she handles it?

  1. The failed exam. You fail a subject you wanted to study. Do you drop it forever, or find another way back to it? Judith found another way.
  2. No negotiation. Her government said it would not negotiate with the rebels attacking it, but later signed peace agreements. When is it right to refuse to talk, and when is it right to make a deal?

Your turn: Have you ever failed at something, then tried again a different way? What did you learn the second time?

7. A Bit More

Kristrún Frostadóttir, Iceland

Think about it: Kristrún campaigned for one result and the voters chose the other. She called it “a victory for democracy.” Was she right? Can you lose and win at the same time?

  1. The PhD. You’ve worked hard to get into a top program, but after a year you realize it isn’t right for you. Do you keep going because you started, or leave to find something better?
  2. The result. You campaigned hard for something, and you lost. Do you accept it, or keep fighting?

Your turn: What is one way you’d like to “do a bit more” this year: a language, a place, a skill?

8. Fewer Than 200 Votes

Mia Mottley, Barbados

Think about it: Is it a problem when one party wins every single seat, even if voters freely chose it? What would you want to see to make sure democracy stays healthy?

  1. Two hundred votes. You lose your first big contest by a tiny margin. Do you try again, or decide it wasn’t meant to be?
  2. Thirty-five minutes. Your own teammates vote you out while you’re not in the room. Do you walk away from the team, or stay and wait for your chance?

Your turn: Mia used her voice to speak for small countries. Is there a group of people whose voice you think goes unheard? How could you help them be heard?

9. The Drummer Who Wanted to Be an Iron Lady

Sanae Takaichi, Japan

Think about it: Is having a woman leader automatically a step forward for women, or do her policies matter more? Can both be true?

  1. Age 19. You’re accepted to a top university, but your family won’t pay and won’t let you move. Sanae chose a six-hour daily commute to another school. Would you have done the same, fought your family, or chosen something else?
  2. Age 63. You’ve lost twice, the second time by 21 votes. Sanae ran a third time and won. When is it right to keep going, and when is it right to stop?

Your turn: What’s the hardest thing you’ve done to get something you wanted? What would you be willing to do?

10. Accused Number One

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Namibia

Think about it: She fought for freedom from a government that denied people rights. Today, some groups say her government doesn’t give them the rights they want. How do you think she would answer them? How would they answer her?

  1. Fourteen. At 14, Netumbo joined a movement that could get her arrested. Would you join a cause that risky at your age? What would it have to be about?
  2. Stay or go. After her trial, with her friends publicly flogged, she left everything she knew for exile. Was leaving the brave choice, or would staying have been braver?

Your turn: Is there an unfair rule or situation where you live that you’d like to change? What’s one small first step you could take?

11. The Worrier Who Led Anyway

Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand

Think about it: Should a leader be judged by her goals, by her results or by how she handled emergencies? Which would you weigh most?

  1. Leaving something you love. Jacinda left the church she grew up in because its teachings didn’t match her values. Have you ever had to choose between belonging and believing?
  2. Walking away. She resigned while she still had the job and the support to keep it. Would you have stayed or gone?

Your turn: Think of a trait you usually see as a weakness, like nervousness, shyness or caring too much. How might it actually help you?

12. The Girl From Garbatella

Giorgia Meloni, Italy

Think about it: People feel very strongly about Giorgia Meloni, for and against. Go through the points above and sort them into facts and opinions. What’s the difference?

  1. The unpopular side. At 15, Giorgia joined a group most of her neighbors disagreed with, and stayed on that side of politics for more than 30 years. Have you ever believed something most people around you didn’t? How do you stand up for it while still listening to people who disagree?
  2. Four percent. After her party won only about 4 percent of the vote, she kept going. When is a bad result a reason to quit, and when is it a reason to keep building?

Your turn: Think of a time someone laughed at you. Is there a way that moment could become a strength?

13. Elbows Out

Mette Frederiksen, Denmark

Think about it: As a teenager, Mette was punched for defending immigrant children. As prime minister, she led some of Europe’s strictest immigration policies. Is this a contradiction, or could someone believe in both? What do you think she would say?

  1. Stepping in. You see younger kids being picked on by someone dangerous. Do you step in, knowing you might get hurt? Mette did.
  2. Changing your mind. As a leader, you decide your party must change a position many of your friends care about. Do you follow your judgment, or your friends?

Your turn: What causes did you care about when you were younger? Do you still care about them the same way?

14. The First Daughter of Her Village

Droupadi Murmu, India

Think about it: What can a leader with a mostly ceremonial job actually change? Look at the tenancy bills she sent back. Is the power to say “no” a real power?

  1. After the loss. After losing almost her whole family and two elections, Droupadi could have stepped away from public life for good. She chose meditation, work and service instead. What helps you through hard times?
  2. Signing or refusing. As governor, she was expected to sign laws from a government run by her own party. She sent two of them back. When should you go along with your team, and when should you say no?

Your turn: Has anyone ever given you a nickname or a label you didn’t choose? What would you like your name to stand for?

15. A Chapter of Almost Accidents

Harini Amarasuriya, Sri Lanka

Think about it: Harini once said Sri Lankan politics was “toxic, masculine, violent and exclusive.” Can one person change a whole political culture from the inside? What would it take?

  1. Arguing at home. As a teenager, Harini disagreed with her father about politics. Have you ever disagreed with your family about something important? How do you argue with people you love?
  2. Saying yes. Experienced men in her alliance wanted the seat in Parliament, but she was chosen. If you were offered a big job you hadn’t planned for, would you take it?

Your turn: Harini tells young people to get into politics and change it. What is one thing about the way decisions are made at your school or in your town that you would change?