Women Who Dared
From the Infamous to the Forgotten
Edited by Ben Fletcher-Watson, Jo Shaw
Foreword by Sara Sheridan
Stories of resistance, power and defiance from the women who dared to make history
- Provides a global view of feminist history, taking in every continent in a span stretching from antiquity to the 21st century.
- Brings together a range of distinctive voices, from eminent historians to personal reflections on family members and ancestors; contributors include scholars, critics, creative writers, journalists and commentators.
- Makes history accessible, with short, snappy essays written to appeal to a mass audience while maintaining scholarly rigour.
What does it mean to be a woman who dares to challenge the status quo? Whether by wielding power in patriarchal societies or rallying for peace, fighting for change has always put women in danger, but also led to remarkable stories of resistance. Gathering 45 stories from writers around the globe, this collection explores the twin themes of women and daring through the lives of monarchs, prophets, suffragists, soldiers, scientists, activists and artists. From the infamous to the forgotten, these trailblazers have much to tell us about the dynamics, conflicts, identities and power relations with which women live today.
Introduction by Ben Fletcher-Watson and Jo Shaw
Foreword by Sara Sheridan
Dissidents and Disruptors
Flora Tristan by Jelena Vasilijević
Caroline Norton by Francine Ryan
Letitia Youmans by Janet Kellough
Millicent Garrett Fawcett by Gillian Murphy
Lumina Sophie dite Surprise by Vanessa Lee
Flora Shaw by Pengpeng Wang
Chrystal Macmillan by Helen Kay
Lilian Lenton by Hilary McCollum
Adrienne Gerhäuser and Corinna Kawaters by Katharina Karcher
Writers and Wordsmiths
Anna Komnene by Loulia Kolovou
Harriette Wilson by Louise Peskett
Marjorie Fleming and Emily Pepys by Lois Burke
Louisa Lawson by Sarsha Crawley
Nellie Bly by Ashley Orr
Marija Jurić Zagorka by Ana Pavlić
Ismat Chughtai by Megha Katoria
Doris Lessing by Jane Rogers
Alifa Rifaat by Alia Soliman
Flora Nwapa by Ejine Olga Nzeribe and Ebere Okereke
Anna Politkovskaya by Lucy Popescu
Monarchs and Mystics
Hatshepsut by Stephanie Aulsebrook
The Oracle at Delphi by Jill E. Marshall
Wu Zeitan by Chiew-Siah Tei
The Oseberg Burials by Marianne Moen
St Margaret of Scotland by Claire Harrill
The Empress Matilda by Lucy Flannery
Marguerite Porete by Laura Moncion
Anne Askew by Debapriya Basu
Women of the Pendle Witch Trials by Sarah King
Travellers and Trailblazers
Mary Somerville by Ruth Boreham
Isabella Bird by Jenni Calder
Sophia Jex-Blake by Jo Spiller
Lady Florence Dixie by Margot McCuaig
Mary Kingsley by Jo Woolf
Lois Weber by Shelley Stamp
Elsie Mackay by Quentin Wilson and Fiona Wilson
Brenda Fassie by Chisomo Kalinga
Politicians and Peacemakers
Mary Barbour by Catriona Burness
Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit by Rosalind Parr
Madge Saunders by Janet Lees
Dagmar Wilson by Jon Coburn
Sirimavo Bandaranaike by Harshana Rambukwella and Kanchana N. Ruwanpura
Rozanne Colchester by Tessa Dunlop
Dagmar Šimková by Kelly Hignett
Helen Steven by Kathy Galloway
Afterword by Jemma Neville
The long line of rebellious, outspoken and daring women gathered in this anthology transforms the meaning of the word 'dangerous' from its fear-laden connotation into necessary audacity. These numerous essays across times, places and perspectives also illuminate that to write is to disrupt, and these women have all done precisely that.
The pieces in this collection are not only intensely readable, they are extremely moving. Here we have fascinating glimpses into the lives of courageous and remarkable women who, often in the face of adversity, have fought for justice and a whole lot of other important values.
This is a book we all need to read. Though few of them are household names, each and every one of the nearly fifty women portrayed here, from an Egyptian pharaoh to Lancashire ‘witches’, from a Croatian investigative journalist to an Indian independence activist is at the heart of an exceptional story. Many of them, through their courage and defiance made the world a better place.
This book brings vital attention to the incredible women that have pushed boundaries and improved humanity whether through political, creative, intellectual or societal contributions. Congratulations to Ben Fletcher-Watson and Jo Shaw for editing such a unique and important collection.
