Question

Empress Wu was the first female ruler of China. Why was she so ruthless in her personal relationships?

1) Empress Wu was more ruthless because she was a woman who had a great deal of power.
2) Empress Wu never learned how to have close personal friends, so she treated everyone with cruelty.
3) Like any dynasty ruler, Empress Wu was always worried about being overthrown by someone close to her.
4) Empress Wu did not have the time or energy to get close to anyone emotionally – she had a country to rule.

Answer 1

Empress Wu's alleged ruthlessness in personal relationships is largely a result of historical bias and gender stereotypes.

Step-by-step explanation:

Empress Wu Zhao, the first female ruler of China, has been portrayed as ruthless in her personal relationships by later scholars. However, this depiction is largely a result of historical bias and gender stereotypes. Empress Wu's actions and behavior were not significantly different from many other rulers of her time, regardless of gender. She was a competent and intelligent ruler who focused on good governance and stability, rather than being excessively ruthless in personal relationships.