Western media often portrays Asian societies as inherently sexist, drawing a stark contrast between the supposedly oppressed Asian women and the ‘liberated’ Western women. This comparison, often unfair and oversimplified, serves to highlight the best aspects of Western culture against the perceived worst of non-Western cultures. This narrative is particularly evident when addressing the roles and lives of Asian women, both historically and in contemporary times. However, the history of women warriors in Asia tells a different story, one of strength, resilience, and leadership.
West Asia
In pre-Islamic times, Arab women played significant roles as warriors, administrators, and ambassadors. One notable figure is Zenobia, the wife of Odenath, the King of Palmyra (modern Syria). Zenobia accompanied her husband on military campaigns against the Persians and Goths. After Odenath’s death, Queen Zenobia led a rebellion against Roman rule and seized Roman territories, demonstrating as much courage and combat prowess as her late husband.
The poetess El-Khaansa, a contemporary of the Prophet Mohammed, was also renowned as a warrior. In 15th-century Yemen, Sharifa Fatima, a Zaydi chieftain and daughter of an imam, conquered San’a. Similarly, in the 18th century, Amira Ghaliyya al-Wahhabiyya led a resistance movement in Saudi Arabia to defend Mecca against foreign invaders. Historical accounts also mention female bodyguards serving Persian kings.
Central Asia
During the second Anglo-Afghan war, an Afghan woman named Malalai famously carried the Afghani flag into battle after its bearers were killed. Afghan women have a long history of active participation in resisting European imperialism.
Khutulun, the daughter of a brother of Kublai Khan, was a legendary warrior. Her father ruled the Central Asian khanate while Kublai governed from China. Khutulun was her father’s most formidable warrior, known for her ability to capture enemies as effortlessly as a hawk snatches its prey. No man could defeat her in combat. A Mongol prince who sought her hand in marriage was publicly bested by her in a wrestling match, and she remained unmarried, much like Urduja of the Philippines.
South Asia
In Kerala, India, both women and men train rigorously in the indigenous martial art of Kalari Payattu. Young girls and mothers can deliver lethal or paralyzing blows. The nizams of Hyderabad employed female guards, while the kings of Kandy in Sri Lanka were protected by female archers.
The Indian queen Jhansi Ki Rani Lakshmibai, known for her military prowess, resisted British colonial forces with remarkable skill and bravery. Trained in martial arts from a young age, Lakshmibai led her armies into battle, manipulating her horse’s reins with her teeth while wielding pistols in both hands. She personally killed many European soldiers in combat. Despite her significant role in Indian history, Western media often ignores such powerful images, preferring to highlight submissive portrayals of Indian women, such as the widow committing sati in popular fiction. In reality, the practice of sati was limited to a few small castes and did not represent the broader scope of Indian culture.