Biography
Lily Montagu, Religious Reformer and Social Worker
By Rabbi Lawrence Rigal Today both Liberal and Reform movements now have women Rabbis and they use new prayer books written in inclusive language, where God is no longer referred to in male terms. All of this directly followed on
Eglantyne Jebb, 1876-1928, Founder of Save the Children and champion of children’s rights
By her biographer, Clare Mulley Eglantyne Jebb, an unlikely children’s champion? ‘To succeed in life, you must give life’ Eglantyne Jebb once wrote. But she herself did not give life in the traditional way expected of a well-to-do Edwardian lady
Bathsua Makin, c 1608-1675
By Claire Jones Scholar, writer, educator and early feminist Overview Bathsua Makin was one of a group of women, including Christine de Pizan, Margaret Cavendish and Mary Astell, who can be described as ‘early feminists’ (although the term ‘feminist’ only
Zabillet - the mother of Joan of Arc
By Joy Bounds Introduction The story of Joan of Arc (Jehanne) is well known. A young, fifteenth-century peasant girl, she led the French army successfully against the English occupiers, and was later captured and burnt at the stake at the
Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle, c 1623-1674
by Claire Jones Playwright; poet; natural philosopher. It was famously said of Margaret Cavendish that she was different to the rest ‘of her frail sex’ who, unlike her, ‘have Fruitful Wombs but Barren Brains’. Gender in the seventeenth century The
Christine de Pizan and the ‘Querelle des femmes’
By Claire Jones Christine de Pizan’s choices and achievements were highly unusual for a woman in the male dominated culture of the Middle Ages. At a time when unflattering opinions about women were widely spread by writers, the church and
Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797)
by Claire Jones Writer, feminist and radical; author of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792) Overview Mary Wollstonecraft was a passionate Enlightenment thinker who is generally celebrated as the first major feminist. Her most significant text, A Vindication
Octavia Hill (1838 - 1912)
Housing reformer, social reformer, philanthropist and co-founder of the National Trust. By Claire Jones In her time Octavia Hill was an influential and well-known figure, now she is regarded as an important pioneer of female activism in the public sphere.
Josephine Butler, 1828-1906
by Claire Jones Worker for poor women’s rights, advocate for prostitutes and campaigner against the Contagious Diseases Acts Overview Josephine Butler is remembered for her compassion for prostitutes and her tireless championing of poor women and children. Importantly, she is
Ethelflaed (Aethelflaed) d. 918
Saxon princess, ‘freedom figher’ and ruler of the Mercians Ethelflaed was the daughter and first-born child of Alfred the Great. She led her troops into battle against the Vikings and it was only with her active support that her younger
