Anonymous Is a Woman: A Global Chronicle of Gender Inequality

by Nina Ansary

2021 Next Generation Indie Book Award “Non-Fiction”2021 Next Generation Indie Book Award “Women’s Issues Non-Fiction”2021 Next Generation Indie Book Award “General Non-Fiction”2021 Next Generation Indie Book Award “Education/Academic”2021 IndieReader Discovery Awards “History”2021 Benjamin Franklin Award “Silver for History”2021 Benjamin Franklin Award “Gold for Interior Design”

“Books of the Week” — Smithsonian Magazine

“17 Brilliant Books That You Won’t Struggle to Finish” — Buzzfeed

“With a global economic crisis looming, Ansary’s book is a reminder that our responses must be alive to inequalities already at play.” — The Times Literary Supplement

Award-winning author, women's rights advocate, and historian Dr. Nina Ansary takes readers on a 4,000-year historical journey to expose the roots and manifestations of systemic gender discrimination. The book’s biographical profiles of fifty forgotten female innovators—brought to life by international illustrator Petra Dufkova—shatter deeply rooted gender myths to tell remarkable stories about groundbreaking contributions to the global community.

In 1929, British novelist Virginia Woolf ran her fingers along the spines of the books in her library wondering why no woman in Shakespeare’s era had written “a word of that extraordinary literature when every other man, it seemed, was capable of song or sonnet.” She concluded, “Indeed, I would venture to guess that Anon, who wrote so many poems without signing them, was often a woman.”

Nearly a century after Woolf penned those incisive words—frequently modified as “For most of history, Anonymous was a woman”—the phenomenon of female anonymity persists as women worldwide continue to be restricted by society’s formal and unspoken barriers.

Why does Virginia Woolf’s statement still echo in the twenty-first century?Why have women been consistently denied opportunities that are automatically given to men?And why has the historical record failed to adequately recognize notable women?Anonymous Is a Woman. . .exposes the roots and manifestations of institutionalized gender and racial discrimination; dismantles centuries of historical bias through biographical profiles of fifty remarkable, yet forgotten women innovators; and challenges ingrained stereotypical assumptions to advance an unconventional argument for equality and inclusivity.

100% of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated. The primary recipients will be The Center for Human Rights in Iran, a New York-based 501(c)(3) registered nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to the protection and promotion of human rights in Iran, and The London School of Economics Centre for Women, Peace, and Security, an academic space for scholars, practitioners, activists, policymakers, and students to develop strategies that promote justice, human rights, and participation of women in conflict-affected situations around the world.

Genres: Feminism, Nonfiction, History, Womens, Biography, Biography Memoir

331 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 8, 2020

About the author

Dr. Nina Ansary is an award-winning Iranian American author, historian, and women’s rights advocate whose interdisciplinary scholarship focuses on the history of women’s rights in Iran and the broader implications of institutionalized gender discrimination.

Dr. Ansary received her M.A. in Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies and Ph.D. in History from Columbia University, where her academic work laid the foundation for her first book, Jewels of Allah: The Untold Story of Women in Iran. Based on her doctoral thesis, the book reveals the unexpected ways in which Iranian women have advanced their rights, particularly in the post-revolutionary period. The book received numerous literary awards, including the International Book Award in Women’s Issues.

Her second book Anonymous Is a Woman: A Global Chronicle of Gender Inequality, examines the systemic exclusion of women from recorded history and the persistent fight for equal rights. The book garnered multiple awards, including the Benjamin Franklin Book Award in History.

Dr. Ansary is active in international efforts to advance women’s rights and has served as a UN Women Global Champion for Innovation and a Visiting Fellow at the London School of Economics Centre for Women, Peace and Security. She is currently the Director of the Women’s Leadership Initiative and a member of the Advisory Board at the Cambridge Middle East and North Africa Forum; a think-tank based at the University of Cambridge.

A frequent guest on media outlets, she has appeared on CNN, BBC, Fox News and Larry King, and her work and commentary have been featured in The New York Times, The Daily Beast, Time, Teen Vogue, and the Yale Journal of International Affairs.

Dr. Ansary is the recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, Columbia University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Alumni Award, and Barnard College Columbia University Trailblazer Award.

To contact Nina Ansary, please send an email to nina@ninaansary.com or connect with her on:
X/Twitter (@drninaansary)
Instagram (@ninaansary)
Facebook (facebook.com/ninaansary)

Reviews

[Selkis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book, thought-provoking and so important. I've been reading many books about feminism lately, and I'm glad I got the chance to add this to my collection.

The author starts with a quote from Virginia Woolf's essay A Room of One's Own about Shakespeare's hypothetical sister Judith and her fate. She compares her situation to the current situation and talks about the progress that has been made. But she also mentions all the work that still needs to be done before we reach full equality.
I enjoyed this introduction a lot. Nina Ansary presents the information in a clear and engaging way. Reading about the situation nowadays is eye-opening, and I think everybody should be aware of the lack of equality.

The second half of the book is about 50 women in history that are relatively or completely unknown. I loved reading those short essays, as they gave me a chance to learn about their lives, the culture they grew up in, and their struggles. I especially enjoyed reading about women from all over the world (not just the west), as well as different time periods.

Naturally, I found some essays more interesting than others, but I think this issue can't be avoided. My overall impression is very positive, and I'd recommend the book to everybody interested in history and/or feminism.

I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mark Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many women inequality authors stop short of the actual impact the injustice serves society. Not Nina Ansary. She focuses on the history of women’s inequality, the studies backing up the injustice, and how it hurts society on every level. Never before has an author tactfully approached the situation and offered solutions like Ansary.

[Bonnye Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free electronic copy of this excellent work from BOOKSIREN, Nina Ansary, and Revela Press. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read Anonymous is a Woman of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work.

Anonymous is a Woman is a book that should be required reading for tweeny girls. It is important for girls even in our supposed 'modern' times to see that the barriers set in 'stone' can be - should be - ignored or overlooked. It seems it is a lesson that must be learned again by every generation of women in the world. Nina Ansary chose excellent examples to bring our girls into a STEM world prepared to contribute and shine.
pub date March 7, 2020
Revela Press
Reviewed on April 24, 2020, at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, Barnes & Noble, BookSirens, and Kobo. Not available for review on BookBub or GooglePlay.

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

This is a great book full of thought provoking information about fifty female innovators going back in history and discusses how women have been denied tge right and recognition through opportunities in life and discusses gender, discrimination and bias.
These fifty women have been forgotten over time and I was astonished that I could only count on one hand how many I had heard of.
I found this book an interesting read znd enjoyed discovering about these women in the biographical profiles created ad researched about each of them.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of biographical sketches illuminates the stories of highly obscure women from throughout the world who have accomplished significant things. The book begins with an examination of gender inequality, and the author provides persuasive arguments for why eliminating obstacles for women will lead to greater overall social flourishing. I found this section somewhat difficult to read, since the author crammed in too much statistical information for a reader to easily contextualize or absorb, but it serves as an adequate introduction to the topic.

The rest of the book is story-driven, with short biographical sketches about global women who contributed to a variety of different scientific, literary, musical, medical, political, educational, social, psychological, and humanitarian fields. This book is particularly worthwhile for audiences who want to move past a Western lens in their view of women's issues, because it provides a global perspective on women's rights and celebrates the accomplishments of women of many different racial, ethnic, and national backgrounds.

This is one of my favorite anthologies of its kind. It is unusually well-written, and most of the information was new to me. Anthologies like this often cover the same women again and again, but instead of teaching readers about Marie Curie and Florence Nightingale for the thousandth time, this book addresses the accomplishments of women most people have never heard of. In some cases, the biographical sketches round up almost all of the limited information that is even available about them. That makes this book and its formatting much more valuable. Although many other anthologies provide brief, reductionist glimpses into the lives of women written about in detail elsewhere, this is the only resource where I would have learned about most of these women.

This book is also extremely well-cited, with a lengthy list of resources for further reading and many pages of notes in the back. Many authors of anthologies like this fail to cite their information, keeping the book more popular than scholarly, but this book works for people who are interested in passive readership and those who want to use this as a springboard for further research.

I learned a lot from this book, greatly enjoyed it, and would recommend it to anyone who is interested in a global perspective on women's rights and enjoys reading biographical sketches. This book is appropriate for middle grade readers and older, and because it is well-researched and thoroughly cited, it is a great option for both school use and pleasure reading.

I received an advance copy through BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.

[Crystal Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just for context, I'm writing this review during the COVID-19 quarantine, so of course many of us are quicker to emotion than usual. But still, I think I would've cried while reading this book anyway. In a good way. In the way that it feels so good to read in black and white, so well researched and laid out, so solidly documented, an idea that resonates deeply about your own experience or condition or something you feel equally passionate about.

If you are a woman who knows viscerally that significant gender disparity still exists, despite the widespread insistence (sometimes even by other women) that all of that past nonsense has been remedied, you will love this book. It even addresses the idea of intersectionality in feminism, which is often "conveniently" missing in the discussion on this topic led by middle-class American white women (of which I am one, so I'm allowed to say that).

If you aren't a woman but you care about women and you aren't threatened by the idea that the progress toward equality that we've made is appreciated but still insufficient, and the idea that perhaps someone who looks an awful lot like you has perpetuated the problem, then you will probably also love this book.

I'm going to be recommending this to a lot of my former students, who are now young adults (or even not-so-young adults).

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anonymous is a Woman by Iranian-American Nina Ansary author and women’s right advocate is not earthshattering in fact if you’re a woman you’ve probably been a victim of gender inequality, or as she likes to call it anonymity, in your lifetime. But this chronicle of women’s gender inequality through the ages is groundbreaking, in it she brings to the forefront fifty historically important women who have been pretty much forgotten or worse whose contributions have been attributed to men. She uses the almost century old Virginia Woolf essay about Shakespeare’s fictional sister to illuminate that gender inequality is still alive and unwell in the 21st Century and the fact that many women in history either used a male or anonymous moniker to make sure their work was published. And if you think the US is at the top of the rung of gender equality ladder think again, not only does it rank 51st out of 144 below Mexico but it’s also dropped 23 places since 2015 and at it’s current state would take 208 years to reach true gender equality which in this #metoo and #blacklivesmatter era is sobering. This book should be a required read for every middle-schooler both female and male, and if you’re a mother or father with a daughter you owe it to her no matter her age to purchase this book (all proceeds of this book will be donated).

[Ed Malaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anonymous is a Woman is a really good book that brings up a lot of interesting points I did not know before. It’s so unfortunate that women have been, and are continued to be treated poorly. It’s so contradictory that men are raised to put women on a pedestal, yet recorded history and well-conducted studies can’t be argued. This book really opened my eyes to a lot of that hard evidence.

I really liked the section of the book that told of the achievements of different women. Some of the stories were incredibly amazing and I believe that throughout history Anonymous was indeed a woman in many cases. I think that instead of remaking the same movie again, they should devote time to making movies about the women in this section of the book.

This book will enlighten you and make you think, and it will introduce you to many fascinating women and tell you their stories. In many cases, you will wonder why you have not heard about this woman before. I highly recommend it.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anonymous is a woman is a fantastic anthology highlighting the lives of influential women throughout history. Each profile of the woman is accompanied by beautiful watercolor illustrations and gives a brief overview of a how they contributed to their fields of study. From doctors to artists, I appreciated the variety of women profiled in this book. It was informative and it gave me the chance to be introduced to some women in history I had not previously known about.

One of the other aspects I enjoyed about this book was that a lot of the women featured were in the BCE time period. I am personally not family innovators from that far back in history so this was nice change from other books I've read that profile women in history. A recommended read!

[Píaras Cíonnaoíth · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘The struggle we engage in on behalf of all humanity is fundamental to life itself.’

Anonymous Is a Woman by Nina Ansary is a powerful reminder to us all of the achievements and sacrifices that woman have made throughout the centuries. Regrettably, I must admit I haven’t heard of most of the women mentioned in this book. It was a joy to be educated, inspired and enlightened by this scholarly work.

As the author states, ‘these stories represent a mere fraction of the thousands of accomplished women who have been inadequately acknowledged in world history and relegated to obscurity and anonymity despite their achievements. Illuminating these exemplary women not only expands the historical record, but also provides young girls with role models to inspire their pursuit of goals and aspirations.’

Despite the gains made by women in recent years, many women on the global stage still find that their access to education, employment, healthcare and political influence remains limited - or even nonexistent - because of their gender. This book will encourage and inspire all those who read it. Highly recommended.

[Gayle (OutsmartYourShelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book! The author has put together a collection of short vignettes of 50 amazing women from history who struggled against the cultural expectations and the constraints of social limitations that women were subjected to, and succeeded. These women worked in medicine, science, and architecture, they went to war, they wrote music, and painted art, and invented machines. The examples are drawn from all areas of the world and throughout time up until the mid-twentieth century, and there are some lovely artistic renditions of the women.

I had never heard of any of the women before and that is such a great shame. Their achievements were in many cases derided in their own time and they have either been lost to history or deliberately excluded. The author also raises the issues that women still face today, even though we have made so many strides in achieving equality. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to learn the truth about the contributions of women to the world.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Ravin Maurice · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very cool and comprehensive book. I really enjoyed a lot of the points that the author presented, including the idea she put forth with the title which was why I wanted to read the book in the first place. Thinking on the often misquoted quote from Virginia Wolf the idea that many things attributed to Anonymous were created by women is fascinating.
I really enjoyed the section of profiles of historical women who contributed to so many amazing things that I probably would have never heard of. Some of them would make for awesome historical fiction!
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes reading about womens issues and loves unknown history.

[Svetlana LyraReadings Sa.Lirom.O.Knjigama · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is something I've always wanted to read but did not know it. It is exquisitely written and gives so much insight into the imbalance that should be of everyone's concern regardless of a reader's gender. Whatever one's motives for reading this book, they will finish it that much richer for new knowledge and perspective. I highly recommend this book.

--
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Julie Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

In her landmark essay, A Room of One's Own, Virginia Woolf wondered why she couldn't find any lasting works by women from Shakespeare's day that were as notable as his and his other male contemporaries. In her frustrations, Woolf looked at the many poems and other literary works that were signed "Anonymous." Woolf speculated,"Indeed I would venture to guess that Anon, who wrote so many poems without signing them was a woman."

All over the world and through history, women have been denied opportunities that were given freely to men. Some women like Artemisia Gentileschi, came from artistic noted families and were able to become exceptions and study with male contemporaries. Others like George Eliot, Georges Sand, and The Bronte Sisters published under male pseudonyms. Others like Jane Austen and Anne Bradstreet had to produce their work around the noise and disruption of family life. Then there are those like Rosalind Franklin who received no credit for their discoveries while their male counterparts did or even like Margaret Keane who had their work falsely attributed to male spouses and family members. Then there are others that history still haven't acknowledged.

Not just in history either. The Gender Gap is still wide. According to statistics 104 countries have legislation that prevents women from working in certain jobs. 45 countries do not legally prohibit domestic violence and 72 countries have no determined criminal penalties for domestic violence offenders. 59 countries have no laws preventing sexual harassment. Even certain fields in the United States underrepresent women. In 2017, 2.2 % of venture capital was awarded to businesses founded by women. In 2019, 87% of most of the American museum collections are works by men. Only 17% of people in STEM fields are women.

Many feminist scholars, historians, activists and authors not only try to change the outlook for women of today. They want to acknowledge the forgotten women of the past, recognize their achievements, and give them some long overdue credit. One of those scholars is Nina Ansary.

Ansary's previous book, Jewel's of Allah: The Untold Story of Women in Iran highlighted the achievements of many female leaders and advocates throughout Iran's history. This book, Anonymous is a Woman: A Global Chronicle of Gender Inequality, takes her studies on a global scale and acknowledges women all over the world. Ansary describes the achievements of 50 women from En Hedu-Anna (c.2300 BCE), from Akkadia, the world's first known female astronomer who also wrote of her discoveries in poetic form on cuneiform to Alice Ball (1892-1916), an American chemist who created a water soluble solution of chaulmoogra oil to treat leprosy patients.

The women cover a variety of different backgrounds, time periods, ethnicities, nationalities, and occupations. From scientists, to inventors, to activists, to artists, to authors, to doctors, to warriors, to an aviator. These women were admirable in their actions and deeds often becoming the first woman in their fields. For example Sutayta Al-Mahamali (Birthdate unknown-987), from Arabia was the first female mathematician. She was known for her mathematical and legal mind and used advanced algebraic knowledge to solve inheritance disputes.

Another woman who was a first was Bessie Colman (1896-1926). She was the first American woman to receive a pilot's license and the first African-American pilot, period. Since American flight schools were closed to her, Colman moved to France to receive her license. She returned to America and assumed a career as a barnstormer, stunt pilot, until her death in 1926 when her plane went into a nosedive and crashed.

The accounts are brief but that is probably the point. Ansary is only giving the Reader a taste of these women, brief sketches of who they were. The Reader would then be interested to read and learn more about these amazing women. The chapter on Elizabeth Freeman (c.1742-1829) describes how she approached attorney Theodore Sedgwick to sue for her freedom, which she ultimately obtained. Readers may then want to find other works about Freeman and about other African-Americans who worked to obtain freedom before the 13-15th Amendments were ratified.

Readers may read about Marianne North (1830-1890) and learn that the Englishwoman documented and painted over 800 species of flowers and while visiting seventeen countries and six continents. Afterwards, they may want to look at her beautiful detailed paintings and read about her travels.

Readers might know Lilian Gilbreth (1878-1972) because of the book and film, Cheaper by the Dozen. However, the chapter acknowledges her contributions to the field of industrial and managerial engineering and organizational psychology. Her managerial efficiency skills were so well noted that she was a consultant for such businesses as General Electric and Macy's. Readers will learn of her psychological and industrial work and will recognize her as far more than a busy harried mother of twelve.

Many of these women became voices for their communities. Zitkala Sa (1876-1938), a Yankton Sioux woman wrote the libretto for the first opera by a Native American. She also founded the National Council of American Indians which advocated for education and health care for Native Americans.

Another advocate for women's rights in her home country was Zoila Ugarte De Landivar (1864-1969), an Ecuadorian journalist. She founded the first Ecuadorian Feminist magazine, La Mujer, and wrote various articles advocating feminist causes in her country.

Many of these women received abuse and criticism for their contributions. One of those women was Bibi Khanum Astarabadi (1858-1921), an Iranian advocate for women's education. When a book called The Education of Women was published declaring that women should not be educated, Astarabadi wrote her own response, The Vices of Men. She challenged the male dominated society that she lived under and argued for better educational opportunities for Iranian women and girls.

Unfortunately, many of these women's pursuits were overshadowed by men in their fields. One was Marion Mahoney Griffin (1871-1961), an architect who worked alongside Frank Lloyd Wright. Even though Mahoney Griffin was considered the most talented member of Lloyd's team and contributed many details to the project such as stained glass, murals, and mosaics Lloyd refused to give her any credit clearly wanting to turn his work into a one man show.

In the early days of Hollywood, Lois Weber (1879-1939) was ranked as one of the "three great minds" of the early Hollywood industry, alongside Cecil B. DeMile and D.W. Griffith. The director of more than 130 shorts and feature films, Weber wanted films to discuss serious social issues as well as entertainment. Unfortunately, after her death she was seen mostly as a star maker and her fame and influence on the industry was eclipsed by her male contemporaries.

One of the more interesting stories of a woman challenging a man for recognition was that of Margaret E. Knight (1838-1914),an American inventor. While working at the Columbia Paper Bag Company, Knight created a machine that made the work productive and allowed for the creation of the square bottomed paper bag. A man named Charles Annan tried to steal and receive a patent for Knight's invention. Knight successfully sued Annan and received the patent when she produced schematics, plans, and journal entries. Knight went on to invent other things like a shoe cutting machine, a numbering machine, and several devices related to rotary engines.

I would be remiss if I did not mention Petra Dufkova's illustrations. Very few the woman were featured in photographs or portraits, so Dufkova used her imagination to sketch these women. The sketches reveal their strengths, intelligences, and determination to change their circumstances.

Through Dufkova's beautiful illustrations and Ansary's insightful words, these women are being recognized for their talents, courageousness, intelligences, and willingness to change the world around them. They are names and faces. They are no longer Anonymous.

[Carol Kean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book with gorgeous illustrations - an attention-getting, conversation-starting, high-quality paperback, the print job itself is worth five stars. So, too, are the water-color portraits of each woman forgotten by history. Each short biography is well written, compelling, and pithy.

But who painted these lovely portaits, these watercolors? I've searched in vain, inside the book and at the site, for the identity of this illustrator. Was it done with photoshop? Even so, a graphic artist deserves some credit.

Accomplished women who are already famous, such as Marie Curie, Margaret Sanger, Sacagawea, and Pocahontas, are not in this collection, which focuses on the 'obscure lives' of fifty forgotten female innovators. Still, I would have liked to see some Native American warrior women included here. Lozen was the "right hand" of Geronimo. Like Lozen, a Mescalero Apache warrior woman Dahteste could out-ride, out-shoot, out-hunt, out-run, and out-fight her peers, male and female, with grace. Courageous, daring and skillful, she took part in battles and raiding parties alongside her husband and Geronimo. Why are these names, Lozen and Dahteste, not household names like Pocahantas?

"Indigenous people, and especially indigenous women across the world and time, have always been kept in the shadows of well-documented history," Ansary writes. A few of them do make it into this book, but not for their military prowess. "Redbird," Zitkála-Šá, also known as Gertrude Simmons Bonnin, wrote the libretto for the first opera by a Native American. She was a Yankton Dakota Sioux writer, editor, translator, musician, educator, and political activist.

I'd heard of Redbird but not Shanawdithit, the last known living member of the Beothuk people in what is now Newfoundland. The last of her line! Starvation, tuberculosis, and attacks by white trappers and fishermen had reduced the Beothuks to only a few remaining families by the early 1800s. With no friends or family left, Shanawdithit became a domestic servant in the white settlement at Exploits, where learned enough English to tell the story of her people. Much of what we know about them today is thanks to Shanawdithit's stories and drawings. Shanawdithit also helped change the public perception of indigenous people as ignorant savages. Her dignity, charm, talent, and intelligence are celebrated today, but it took more than a hundred years for the statues, books, and an opera ("Tapestry," which premiered in Toronto, May 16-25, 2019) to bring her name into public awareness.

One name is (or should be) better known than most in this collection: the first African American pilot, Bessie Colman, who was "turned away by every flying school that approached because of her race and gender," so she moved to France in 1920, earned her international pilot's license, and performed at countless air shows upon returning to the U.S. She died in 1926 at age 34 when her plane nosedived to the earth.

"Although there has been some progress, and in some cases cause to celebrate, women are still in the midst of an arduous journey toward full gender equality throughout the world," Ansary writes in Chapter Two, where she focuses less on the number of women in positions of power and influence, and more on the continuing hurdles. In spite of STEM camps (science, technology, engineering, and math for girls), mot people interviewed report that they still don't see a lot of women in science. Obituaries too: "Women are not only underrepresented when they are alive but also when they passed on," Ansary tells us. Poets, sculptors, astronomers, crusaders, athletes, explorers: see if you recognize any of the names on the "Overlooked" list.

While no one book can serve as a comprehensive history of women overlooked and forgotten, despite their extraordinary achievements and innovations, this one is a fantastic place to start.

100% of all proceeds from the sale of the book go to charitable organizations and institutions.

Dr. Nina Ansary is an internationally recognized Iranian-American scholar, award-winning author and women's rights advocate.

[Joseph Spuckler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anonymous Is a Woman: A Global Chronicle of Gender Inequality by Nina Ansary is a study of women's equality in the world and time.  Ansary is an Iranian–American historian and author best known for her work on women's equity in Iran. Ansary's research has notably countered conventional assumptions of the progress of women in Iran while continuing to advocate for full emancipation.

"I would venture to guess that Anon, who wrote so many poems without signing them, was often a woman." —Virginia Woolf

Woolf's original quote has evolved into the more straightforward "Anonymous is a woman."  The facts are the same in either version of the quote.  Women who make up over half the population of the world make up only a tiny part of recorded history.  Ansary examines the women's suffragette movement and its history as well as reviewing what makes a campaign successful.  Women fought for the end of slavery and were disappointed that the 15th Amendment, although allowing every man to vote it neglected to include women. Rather than banding together with African-American women and continuing to fight a division along racial lines now formed.  What stopped the Equal Rights Amendment from gaining support but allowed Rosa Parks to become a national hero and leader in Civil Rights? 

Today we here about the wage disparity of men's and women's wages in the same job, but many would think thinks have gotten much better.  Women authors like George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans) no longer hide their names because women writers are accepted as equal to men.  But how many people know what the J stands for in J. K. Rowlings? 

Women have made gains, and that is reflected in the Global Gender Gap scores, which examine many aspects of equality in politics, pay, health, freedom, opportunity, and education.  Not too surprising, three Scandinavian countries hold the top spot, and Africa and the Near East make up the bottom of the list.  Countries like Albania,  Rwanda,  Belarus, Mexico, Laos, Bangladesh, and Bulgaria, all rank above the United States.  The U.S. doesn't make it into the top 50.  

Ansary includes biographies of fifty women from ancient times to the near present from around the world who made important discoveries, literary contributions, and even a general.  Being fairly well-read and having an undergraduate degree in history, I thought I would have had to run across at least a few of these women in my studies.  The short answer is "no." I remember the leader of the Chilean independence movement, the leader of Algerian independence, the powerful Boyars of medieval Russia. Still, I can say I haven't heard of these fifty equally important women. 

Woolf also created a woman in history -- Judith Shakespeare.  William's sister was just as equally talented but equally rejected simply because she was a woman.  

"Now my belief is that this poet who never wrote a word and was buried at the cross-roads still lives. She lives in you and in me, and in many other women who are not here to-night, for they are washing up the dishes and putting the children to bed."

Women have made great strides despite society and their environment; However, much like the lower ranks of infantry that died breaking enemy lines and turned the course of the war, they are footnoted and individually forgotten. Women have come a long way, but unfortunately, they still have a long way to go to be truly equal. An enlightening read. 

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The idea of gender inequality is not a new problem, it has been an issue for thousands of years. In 1929, the esteemed British novelist Virginia Woolf posed a question and statement that will forever be remembered among feminists. In her time, Woolf was concerned about why there were no women credited as authors or main contributors to literacy in Shakespeare’s era. Thanks to her comments, the modified phrase, and the title of this informational piece are rightly said as "Anonymous is a Woman". Nina Ansary has committed her research in this book to helping women receive the recognition they deserve by delivering statistics to prove her points and recognizing and acknowledging women from history who accomplished amazing feats for their time and received little to no praise. The statistics that Ansary delivers are astounding; even taking into account the statistics from a decade ago, so many countries around the world still practice gender-based discrimination, and by doing this they are degrading women. Even in the area of death, women are underrepresented in obituaries compared to men! Pulling from different worldly theories, Ansary compares gender inequality to the Chinese yin-yang to illustrate how men and women must be able to work together in order to make a successful whole instead of mediocre halves. To break down the barrier of gender inequality will allow for our society to function at its peak performance (which we’ve yet to see) by bringing in more money for the economy and increased self-esteem among all the citizens of the world.
The facts that Ansary presents cannot be ignored, but unfortunately will fall onto deaf ears when heard among most men. The format in which they are presented in this book is pleasing; the facts that promote the issue are presented in the first half, then the lives and contributions of many women from history are briefly discussed. The beginning of each new woman to be addressed includes a gorgeous painting of them, putting a possible face to each name with wispy watercolor strokes of grays, browns, and blacks. The women presented did remarkable things, not just for a woman but for any human being. Some of the occupations of these women include being the first known, or most successful for her time, astronomer, chemist, medic, mathematician, designer of astrolabes, poet, anatomist, resistance leader, philosopher, composer, the creator of aquariums, worker on global warming, painter, and surgeon, among many more. Immersing yourself in this book will prove beneficial to your historical knowledge, as well as your appreciation for women. Not only a women’s book, "Anonymous is a Woman" can be a learning tool for men and women alike, with insightful information galore.

[Nancy Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first three chapters of this book read like an academic paper. I soon lost interest. It was earnest and factual, and sadly accurate, I imagine, but a very dry way of starting a book. For me, the meat of the book starts in Chapter 4 with the biographies of accomplished women around the world and across time. Each profile starts engagingly with some scene or information that draws you in immediately. If only the whole book had been written in this style.

I wish the subtitle had reflected these biographies and had sounded less negative: "A Global Chronicle of Gender Inequality." It's nothing that draws you in; in fact, it sounds like the reader is going to be scolded. I've seen other books with mini-biographies of accomplished women and the titles are engaging; for example, "Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World" by Rachel Ignotofsky.

It's clear this book is meant as a coffee table book. The paper is glossy and the book heavy. The artwork is lovely, although almost all the faces have the dewy look of a young, Caucasian woman depicted in the traditional way people (and men, in particular) consider attractive. Gibson Girls of the modern age. Why wipe out what these women actually looked like? But, I'll grant an extra star to any book that focuses on women.

The final chapter is something similar to an epilogue and mentions the Anonymous Is a Woman Theater Company and its artist grants. But if it is an organization, I'm confused about the purpose of this book. On the website it states that all proceeds of the book go to "The Center for Human Rights in Iran, a New York-based 501 (c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to the protection and promotion of human rights in Iran; and The London School of Economics Centre for Women, Peace and Security, an academic space for scholars, practitioners, activists, policy-makers, and students to develop strategies that promote justice, human rights and participation of women in conflict-affected situations around the world." Not knowing anything about these organizations, I would be reluctant to support them. Why doesn't the Anonymous Is a Woman organization receive the proceeds? Besides, the organizations sound somewhat ivory tower. I'd rather give money to organizations that support women in practical ways.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anonymous Is a Woman is a compilation of women that were intelligent, creative, and determined but were overlooked during their life. Up until the mid to late twentieth century, the world was a patriarchal and misogynistic society. Women were expected to be submissive to their husbands and raise children. Often, women were barred from universities, ignored in intellectual discussions, and overlooked. Any credit due to a woman was often given to a man instead. Contrary to popular belief, there have been many female scientists, mathematicians, astrologists, and more who have contributed to the world we know today. The purpose of this book is to tell the world about these remarkable women.

As a work of non-fiction, this book holds its own. The author backs their statements with statistics and studies that help the readers understand the gender inequality that was so prominent and sometimes still happens today. The road to a more gender-equal world has been rocky, and this book helps show that. With 50 accounts of women who contributed to revolutionary ideas and creations, but are largely unknown, this read is an eye-opening experience. For example, well known female writers, such as the Bronte sisters, originally used a male pseudonym. I never realized this, and yet it's interesting to know that popular female writers faced prejudice and opposition.

This book is incredibly inspiring and motivational. It emphasizes the accomplishments that have been made in the world so far, but also acknowledges that there is still plenty of room for improvement. In some areas of the world, women are still being subdued and not realizing their full potential. But as this book indicates, this is gradually changing.

What I like about the book is that it calls for true gender equality. It doesn't harp on about pushing female empowerment to the point of pushing men aside. Rather, there should be equality across the board. One gender shouldn't be considered the ruling sex, regardless of what has happened in the past. If both men and women worked together, they could be phenomenal.

[Susan Alpert · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title of this impressive collection of 50 mini-biographies of trailblazing women, ANONYMOUS IS A WOMAN, refers to a quote by Virginia Woolf. Historically, women didn’t get credit for their accomplishments. There are many cases of that here in these tales of women in the fields of math, science, medicine, military, the arts, aviation and human rights. For example, one of the first female architects, Marion Mahony Griffin, worked for Frank Lloyd Wright and he received credit for her ideas. Cheaper by the Dozen’s husband, Frank Gilbreth, was credited with ideas and writings that came from his better-educated wife, Dr. Lillian Gilbreth. African American chemist Alice Ball had her treatment for leprosy patients stolen after her early death by a future University of Hawaii President. That situation wasn’t rectified until many years later.

The greatest strength of Iranian-American author Dr. Nina Ansary’s book, unlike so many other biography anthologies, is that it isn’t Eurocentric. Women from other continents and many ancient civilizations are represented. One biography that painfully resonates today is the tragic tale of ancient Afghanistan poet Rabi’a Balkhi whose brother had her killed for falling in love with a slave. Many of the other women profiled in the book did have the inspiration, education, and encouragement from their progressive families to succeed.

The academic introduction to this book about the history of discrimination of women seems a bit like preaching to the choir and is long. It doesn’t seem to flow with the rest of the narrative.

One suggestion: While the Kindle version of ANONYMOUS IS A WOMAN provides helpful links, this book seems better suited to reading in the hard cover or paperback format. It’s an excellent reference book for homes and libraries. It should be shared with daughters and sons and embraced over their lifetimes.

[Mrs Rj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Nina Ansary has written a stunning piece of work in Anonymous is a Woman, the title of the book coming from a Virginia Woolf quote alluding to the fact that many pieces of writing in history attributed to 'Anon' we should assume have been written by women who were unable to write freely in their own gender due to the patriarchal society over the centuries. As a non academic who is interested in the issues and history of gender equality (or lack of it) Dr Ansary writes in a very accessible style.

This is not a book written for women, in fact it would be a tragedy if the readership is limited to women. It is a beautiful and moving expose, thoroughly researched and referenced, of the tremendous role women have played in history. In many ways I read it as a celebration long overdue of the great achievements that for too long have been overlooked. I was ashamed as I read the details of the 50 women portrayed that every name was unfamiliar to me. How could I not have heard of Elizabeth Freeman, a black American slave who successfully sued for her freedom many years before Emancipation Proclamation? Her daring and her courage in a time where she was 'owned' by a man took my breath away.

Though these 50 portraits of women over history are brief they are, every one, deeply moving and inspiring. In today's world accomplished women are still contending with being disregarded, overlooked and forgotten. The statistics included in the book are stark and reveal how much is still to be done. We are getting better but we should all be striving for 'a gender balanced society beyond anonymity'. The challenge of the book is that 'An ocean of women from all over the globe, united in determination, can raise the tide for all.' I would like to add that if we have men and women in that ocean, how much quicker will the changes come!

[Kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Iranian-American scholar and women's rights advocate Dr. Nina Ansary takes on a global historic journey to look at how gender discrimination is institutionalized and how it still permeates modern life in Anonymous Is a Woman: A Global Chronicle of Gender Inequality.

"Why do such discrepancies persist in the twenty-first century? Why have women been consistently denied opportunities that are freely and automatically given to men?" Dr. Ansary writes. "And why has the historical record failed to adequately recognize notable women?"

Dr. Ansary's research shows how gender equality isn't just a moral issue: it's a political, social, and economic one. Dr. Ansaray notes how diversity correlates to profitability: Businesses excel when there are gender and ethnic diversity. "Our diversity is powerful, as it enables our movement to grow. And today especially we can feel that the momentum fueling our quest for women’s rights is steadily building—across ethnic, ideological, and national boundaries," Dr. Ansary adds.

Dr. Ansary includes short and easily digested biographies of 50 forgotten inventors accompanied by gorgeous watercolor illustrations
She included women who weren't well-known outside their home countries, weren't often written about, and whose story was particularly illuminating with respect to the quest for gender equality."

I highly recommend Ansary's work as it's an unexpectedly hopeful, engaging, and accessible book that anyone can enjoy. 100 percent of the proceeds benefit nonprofits fighting gender inequality.

"Because at its core, the struggle for women’s rights is not just about women’s rights—it’s about human rights—the right for all people, regardless of gender, to achieve and contribute, to exercise free will, to feel safe, and to thrive."

[Jana Carver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book for two reasons.

First, Dr. Ansary clearly did her research. While I am in no way a historian, I found this to be a comprehensive text on women’s history. It is packed full of information on female inventors, artists, activists, doctors, political figures, warriors, etc., who have been swept under the rug and kept “anonymous” throughout history. Not only that, but the author’s focus remains global throughout, so readers are able to get a clearer picture of how women have and are regarded in various times/places. Furthermore, this text manages to orient the reader with background knowledge and historical context, while also rooting itself in the present, making mention of laws and statistics from as recent as 2019; this makes it both a relevant and engaging read.

The second reason I enjoyed this book is more personal: as a woman, it was encouraging to learn about women from around the world who stepped up, outside of gender roles and (quite possibly) their comfort zones, to achieve something greater.

In addition to all of the above, this book is organized and concise. The second section, “Women by the Numbers,” was the only part I found a bit difficult to stay focused on, but that is only due to the fact it discusses laws and statistics by year (and I am not a numbers person). Having said that, the second section of the book is one of my favorites because, once I got over the hurdle of processing what the numbers were telling me, it was probably the most informative section.

All in all, I highly recommend this book. I found it both educational and empowering.

[Sally Flint · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title of this book intrigued me and before I knew it I’d pressed the click button to buy. I can’t pretend I wasn’t intimidated. As a feminist I have strong views, but my knowledge is sketchy. I thought my ignorance would be revealed (but in a good way) and I was afraid I would become so angered that, once again, my husband would take the wrath for the institutional wrongs of male society since time began. Both these came true to some extent. It especially happened when I saw the world rankings of gender inequality explored in Part 2 of the book. Nevertheless it was worth it. The opening pages had me inspired and committed to read on. I loved the re-telling of Viriginia Woolf’s account of Shakespeare’s imaginary talented sister. It was always interesting to see how her famous quote is often misquoted. I hadn’t come across it before.

The autor’s summarising of key notable women and feminists including those in Iran and Japan was fascinating. I had also failed to consider the issue of racism and suffrage so that was eye-opening too. There is so much to love in this book.

The large array (fifty I think it was) of notable global historical figures that were explored in Part 4 made me feel humble. From astronomers to medics to musicians there are a lot of anonymous women out their. The research for this part must have been a labour of love. So overall, this academic, yet infinitely readable and accessible writer is a triumph. If you are tempted at all to buy this book do so. Give it to your children, husband, wife and parents. Everyone should read it.

[THEA E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anonymous is a Woman: A Global Chronicle is a unique and stimulating study of women from all around the world over the course of 4000 years. Ansary strikes an impressive balance of thorough academic research with a clear and accessible writing style, distilling this expansive history of women resisting the patriarchy.

The majority of the book introduces us to 50 female pioneers, individuals spearheading equality from all corners of the globe. Ansary has undertaken the difficult task of selecting just 50 innovators from 1000s of women in history to present to us a catalogue of achievements and triumph against all odds. Astronomers, physicians, mathematicians, poets, leaders, philosophers, artists, composers, biologists, activists, inventors and journalists are all represented here, often uncredited in their lifetimes. Ansary gives us a window into such inspiring lives - otherwise unseen - each moving account punctuated by striking illustrations that bring these role models to life.

It also presents a truly alarming set of statistics, collating in one place just how much progress is still to be made to close the gender gap and reinforcing the link between gender equality and global wealth.

This book makes a vital contribution to the fight for equality, reminding us that while women make up 50% of the population, they only occupy around 0.5% of recorded history. A well reasoned, yet impassioned call to arms, this is essential reading for all and will inspire the next generation to move beyond gender based barriers so we can achieve our potential as human beings.

[Sarvenaz Taridashti · Rating 5 out of 5]

‏"We know this girl, Shakespeare’s sister. It is for her that we sometimes
‏take to the streets today. It is for her that we translate this book in
‏Romanian ... I went to the library the other day. A hundred years later
‏and there are still fewer women on the shelves. But ... we are getting better Virginia. We are getting closer."

[Kelly Hodgkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nina Ansary takes Virginia Woolf’s oft misquoted statement “Anonymous is a Woman” and writes compellingly about the oppression of women in today’s society, the effects of that and then she highlights 50 women who have failed to be seen in history despite their amazing impact.

Part one focuses on the way women’s successes have been kept in the shadows and Nina discusses the multiple ways women and men have fought for gender equality over the years.

Part two highlights the immense amount of work to be done to go train global gender equality. Nina shares statistics and stories of where we are lacking and how big the gap truely is.

“The 2018 report also gives us insight into future change, estimating that, if current trends continue, it will take another 108 years to close the global gender gap” - From “Anonymous Is a Woman” by Nina Ansary

As a woman born into privilege and democracy, it is easy to live without thinking of all the women who don’t have the freedom I have and all the women who fought to give me what freedom I do have.

“Around the world, women are given only [three-quarters] of the legal rights that men enjoy, constraining their ability to get jobs, start businesses, [and] make economic decisions that are best for them [and] their families.” - From “Anonymous Is a Woman” by Nina Ansary

In part three, Nina draws on a vast and diverse group of sources to build a robust economic case for gender equality too which is a perspective I’d not heard about before. She argues strongly for balance.

“The report estimates that, if gender equality in earnings is achieved, human capital wealth could increase by over 20 percent, and total global wealth could increase by 14 percent.” - From “Anonymous Is a Woman” by Nina Ansary

In part four, Nina dedicates half of the book to women who haven’t been seen in the pages of history, whose contributions have been overlooked. She chooses just 50, of which I had heard of only one, and each is a fascinating story of female tenacity, male support and phenomenal results which still impact life today. I’m sad that these women weren’t featured in my science, art or business classes.

“Scott Page asserts that if we are to reap the benefits of diversity, team members “cannot check their identities at the door. They must bring their whole selves—their identities, their experiences, their education and training—to achieve [diversity] bonuses.” In other words, success requires unity and difference.” - From “Anonymous Is a Woman” by Nina Ansary

This book is full of history but it is a page-turner, I read it in one sitting eager to hear more about the women who came before me and the work we still have ahead of us. I highly recommend it, it’s a five out of five on the enJOYment scale. This is one to share widely, with children and adults alike!

[Kristine D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anonymous is a Woman: A Global Chronicle of Gender Inequality is more long-form essay than book, but its point is loud and clear: throughout history, the accomplishments of women and their importance in society have been at best overlooked, at worst, intentionally diminished. The author takes a hard look at examples of when women were devalued, the means by which women attempted to circumvent their patriarchal restrictions, and the fact that, at least as of 2019, we have not come as far as we should have to rectify the gender disparity.

Anonymous is a Woman is a tough read. As an American woman, I am deeply disturbed at what the numbers reveal. Moreover, I’m disappointed in myself that I have accepted behaviors, laws, and philosophies designed to keep me from achieving success and standing on equal footing. I was down right shocked to learn that in the United States, there are no federal laws prohibiting the atrocity that is child marriage.

The fact that the world would look far different if women were treated as equal to their male counterparts in all areas of society isn’t just an opinion. The author provides countless resources, studies, and analyses in support. The irony is that this important piece of examination will likely go overlooked because the author is a woman.

I took off one star because I think the book needs a line edit. There are a few phrases and passages where the writing isn’t as fluid as it could be, and I did find that distracting from the importance of the piece. Aside from that, though, this is an otherwise expertly researched and professional piece.

What I enjoyed most about this book was the fact that it doesn’t insist upon its own conclusion. The evidence is clear and compelling. The challenge now is to get the right people to listen.

[Karyn H · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Undisputed Author on the rise!

Dr. Nina Ansary has succeeded in this piece of writing to clear the air about how deep gender inequality sinks deep into our patriarchal origins. Nina draws her ideas from the historical backdrop of heavy gender inequality that forces women to write under the cover of anonymity. Knowing that you are a woman alone at the time she was referring to was enough reason for your book to receive very poor attention from the opposite gender.
Nina Ansary hopes to use this book to address women of different ages and cultures. Again, it is also of great importance that men should also read this book. There is just enough knowledge contained in this book to leave it for the women alone.
The author Sheds some light on the lives of select women in history and their fight to contribute to speaking out. I love the historical backdrop from which this story is coming from and at the same time. I also love the author's style of writing. It was easy to understand and follow. Anonymous is a woman who is highly commendable and also good for educational purposes.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully compiled book highlighting the achievements of women throughout history and the gender based hurdles they had to overcome. There were a lot of new names that I hadn't heard of before.