Female Hand of the king : prohibited by law?

[Lemorecake]

A female hand ist VERY unlikely aat current circumstances, but if we imagine a dornish king/ a king under strong dornish influence, why not someone like Ellaria Sand (allready accepted as regular member of the small council)?

Dornish habits may aloud a women in higher position.

[TheWitch]

I doubt there is a written rule, but the people of Westeros just wouldn't think that would ever happen. So no.

[Pod The Impaler]

Complimenting kings is well nigh universal activity.

Hmph. I should watch what I am writing.

Complement.

[Jaak]

One thing to consider with the regard to this question is a socially acceptable adult noblewoman in Westeros is a married noblewoman. Realistically an unmarried noble lady above a certain age suffers the stigma from being seen as best as an 'old maid' if not worse.

Unless she is an unremarried widow.

If there is going to be only one man in the Seven Kingdoms who gets jokes made about him being unable to rule in his own house it is the man who is married to the woman who speaks with the King's voice! Given the patriarchal nature of Westerosi society promoting a noblewoman to an ability-based position like Hand is also somewhat snubbing her male relatives by saying she is better than them. Imagine for example if you were to make Olenna Tyrell (I think a woman most would consider a capable choice for Hand) the Hand what her son Mace Tyrell would think? Or the reaction of the male Greyjoys to Asha being named Hand? Raising a woman in Westeros to a position where she is directly competing with men for the role is always going to make some man feel his manhood is threatened by it, remember those knights who were beaten by Brienne at Renly's tourney?

Dorne has a female treasurer. Whereas Iron Throne flinched from making Elaena Mistress of Coin.

Also note that while Lysa, with her fat, known fertility problems and poor character has a bunch of suitors, Catelyn with her better looks and five healthy children does NOT. Catelyn comments that she is happy late Lord Frey was not available to marry her... but we don´t hear actual proposal from anyone who was eligible.

Seeing how Robb was 14, it would look excusable to make Catelyn Hand without a slight on Robb.

[Impoverished Noble]

Maybe the men of Westeros feel that if you give women power they will use that power to help other women and turn men into tools for their bidding.

[Knight of the Teabags]

Unless she is an unremarried widow.

Dorne has a female treasurer. Whereas Iron Throne flinched from making Elaena Mistress of Coin.

Also note that while Lysa, with her fat, known fertility problems and poor character has a bunch of suitors, Catelyn with her better looks and five healthy children does NOT. Catelyn comments that she is happy late Lord Frey was not available to marry her... but we don´t hear actual proposal from anyone who was eligible.

Seeing how Robb was 14, it would look excusable to make Catelyn Hand without a slight on Robb.

Note that I've never said that a female Hand would be impossible, but that due to the nature of Westerosi society she would face judgements based on her martial status that a man in a similar position would likely not have to consider. A widow yes would have an easier deal as they generally do amongst women in general society, there would however always be some concern (as with any unmarried noblewoman in a position of wealth and power) about her marrying someone undesirable to the Iron Throne which always an unmarried man in a similar position would likely not face.

In short a woman holding such a position needs to be formidable head and shoulders above the men she is competing against because she is also fighting against some deeply held prejudices.

On Robb and Catelyn: I definitely think she would be a capable Hand but don't you think there would be an issue of Robb being viewed as a 'Mummy's boy' if he'd made Catelyn his Hand?

[Lord Varys]

A woman could easily become Hand, especially if she was a member of the royal family herself (Rhaenyra). When Joff takes the throne, there seems to be a very strong biasness against women on the Small Council, since there is even some unrest and muttering in the completely Lannister controlled court of KL when Cersei has announce Joff that she, as Queen Regent, would attend the meetings of the Small Council.

[brranstaark]

Catelyn Stark, Ollena Tyrell, Margaery Tyrell, Genna Lannister, Asha Greyjoy or Arianne Martell would be good hands

[Mithras]

Westeros is terribly sexist.

[Ser Arthur Hightower]

Well it wouldn't be prohibited by law, since both the law and the appointment of hand is made by the king, there is no need for a king to make a law that the Hand/members of the small council must be men, because if one of his successors wants to appoint a female he can simply repeal those laws.

 

There may be a Westerosi tradition against putting women in important government roles, but traditions can be broken.

 

I find it unlikely that the position of Hand will go to a woman anytime soon because it is a military as well as a political role, however masters of Coin, Laws and Whisperers can certainly be female without too much problem.

[Ser Arthur Hightower]

A woman could easily become Hand, especially if she was a member of the royal family herself (Rhaenyra). When Joff takes the throne, there seems to be a very strong biasness against women on the Small Council, since there is even some unrest and muttering in the completely Lannister controlled court of KL when Cersei has announce Joff that she, as Queen Regent, would attend the meetings of the Small Council.

 

Part of the problem with Cersei is that everyone knows that it is an empty title; Tywin will be de facto Lord Regent, not Cersei, and if he was the titular Lord Regent as well then Joffrey might seem a stronger candidate.