History & Biography
From monarchs to military heroes, notorious to unsung, we’ll feature biographies and research on women who history labelled dangerous.
Want to shine the spotlight on a dangerous woman from times gone past? See our submissions page for contribution guidelines.
(13 March 1890 – 22 May 1970)
In our monthly post from Scottish PEN, Margery Palmer McCulloch shows how Willa Muir was “‘dangerous’ in the best creative and cultural sense of the word”.
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St Margaret of Scotland
Today, Claire Harrill takes a look at danger in an unexpected place – the 11th century Scottish Queen Margaret, who became a saint.
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This month marks the 10th anniversary of the murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, deemed a dangerous woman for her investigative reporting.
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‘Brick in a soft hat’
Through art and essay, Susan Dessel recounts the work of Martha Gruening, journalist and activist for black civil rights in the United States of the early 20th century.
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‘Dangerous’ didn’t always mean what it does today… Isabel Davis reveals what it meant to be a ‘dangerous woman’ in the Middle Ages. You’ll be surprised!
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Last month we featured an article that briefly mentioned the role of flappers as a crucial moment in women’s history. Here, Amy Williams takes a more in-depth look.
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Mary Anning’s story
The next time you attempt the tongue twister, have a thought for Mary Anning, the incredible woman that inspired it. Rebecca Smith explains.
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The singing non-singer
‘Some women are dangerous… because of their voice…’ Eva Moreda Rodriguez tells us of one of Spain’s earliest recording artists, Amparo Cardenal.
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On women in chemistry careers
‘I am convinced that it is dangerous for women in science not to label ourselves as feminists.’ On Ada Lovelace Day, Polly Arnold discusses gender in chemistry.
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