Jim McMahon

In Egypt, only 25 percent of women are part of the labor force, one of the lowest rates in the world, and human rights advocates say efforts to increase gender equality there are often met with resistance. But women are dominant in one unusual field: lion taming. Luba el-Helw leads the big-cat shows at Egypt’s National Circus, and her sister, aunt, and two of her cousins are also in the business. No men appear in any of their acts. It’s a dangerous occupation, and some have survived attacks. In the U.S., six states have restrictions on using animals in circuses—and a growing number of other countries do too. But in Egypt, legions of people come every year to see the lions perform tricks. Many of the audiences aren’t used to seeing women in positions of power: According to the World Economic Forum, women occupy just 7 percent of the managerial roles in Egypt. But in her performances, el-Helw leaves no doubt about who’s in charge. “I feed [the lions] myself,” she says, “and they look on me as their mother.”