Anonymous Is a Woman: A Global Chronicle of Gender Inequality

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: A Global Chronicle of Gender Inequality takes readers on a 4,000-year historic journey to expose the roots and manifestations of institutionalized gender discrimination; dismantle centuries of historical bias through biographical profiles of fifty remarkable, yet forgotten women innovators; and challenge ingrained stereotypical assumptions to advance an unconventional argument for equality and inclusivity.

“Inspiring and insightful: An elegant authoritative exploration of gender and society in this jewel of a book. Fifty shades of genius – exquisite portraits, splendid sketches and a gorgeous tribute to women long forgotten by history and an expert guide to help ensure it won’t happen again.” —Lyse Doucet, OBE Award winning journalist and BBC's Chief International Correspondent
“Dr. Nina Ansary has written a powerful book on a critical subject. This is an indispensable, brilliantly written call to action. Read the book and heed her call.” —Melanne Verveer, Former US Ambassador for Global Women's Issues and Executive Director of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security at Georgetown University
“Anonymous Is a Woman is an eye-opening wake-up call and an essential reading that impacted my views of the world, as a man and a father, as much as Half The Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide.” —Gregory Hogben, Author of My Daughter's Army, Advocate for Women’s Rights and LGBT Equality
“This insightful book makes the invisible, visible shedding light on how gender inequality permeates everyday life.” —Michelle King, Director of Inclusion, Netflix “Nina Ansary’s portraits of 50 “forgotten” female innovators bring them out of obscurity to underscore the costs of holding back half the Earth’s population.” —Bill Clifford, President and CEO, World Affairs Councils of America