In modern political history, who was the first woman in the world to become the Prime Minister of an independent country?

Introduction / Context:
The rise of women to positions of national leadership is an important theme in modern political and social history. Knowing who was the first woman to serve as Prime Minister of an independent country helps students understand the progress of women in politics and the global timeline of female leadership. This question focuses on identifying the woman who broke this barrier and became the first female Prime Minister in the world, setting an example for later leaders in many countries.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The office in question is the post of Prime Minister, not President or monarch.
• The country must be an independent nation, not a colony or dependent territory.
• Options include Indira Gandhi, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Golda Meir, and Margaret Thatcher.
• We assume basic knowledge of when these leaders served in office.

Concept / Approach:
Sirimavo Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka, then known as Ceylon, became the world’s first woman Prime Minister in 1960 after the assassination of her husband, S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike. She led the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and formed a government, marking a historic first in global politics. Indira Gandhi became Prime Minister of India later, in 1966. Golda Meir became Prime Minister of Israel in 1969, and Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 1979. Since Sirimavo Bandaranaike held the office earlier than these other leaders, she is recognised as the first woman Prime Minister of an independent country.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: List the female leaders in the options and recall the approximate years they served as Prime Minister. Step 2: Note that Sirimavo Bandaranaike became Prime Minister of Ceylon, later Sri Lanka, in 1960. Step 3: Recall that Indira Gandhi became Prime Minister of India in 1966, Golda Meir of Israel in 1969, and Margaret Thatcher of the United Kingdom in 1979. Step 4: Compare these dates to determine who served earliest as Prime Minister of an independent country. Step 5: Conclude that Sirimavo Bandaranaike is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Historical timelines and biographies of women leaders consistently highlight Sirimavo Bandaranaike as the first woman to head a government as Prime Minister of an independent state. Texts about Indira Gandhi, Golda Meir, and Margaret Thatcher acknowledge her as a predecessor in this achievement. This repeated recognition across many sources confirms that she holds this historical first and that the other options, while very significant, came later.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Indira Gandhi was a very influential Prime Minister of India, but she took office in 1966, several years after Sirimavo Bandaranaike. Golda Meir became Prime Minister of Israel in 1969, again later than 1960. Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 1979, which is much later and therefore cannot be the first. All three leaders are important figures in women’s political history but are not the earliest example of a woman becoming Prime Minister of an independent country.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes select Indira Gandhi or Margaret Thatcher because they are more widely known internationally or because their names often appear in textbooks and media. Another pitfall is to confuse dates or assume that the most famous female leader was also the first. Carefully comparing timelines and focusing on the specific wording first female Prime Minister of an independent country helps avoid these misunderstandings.

Final Answer:
The first woman in the world to become the Prime Minister of an independent country was Sirimavo Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka (then Ceylon).