Author Kate Mosse, who has long been an advocate of women’s voices, is now back with a new global campaign.
Launching in advance of International Women’s Day, #WomanInHistory will champion any woman who has been overlooked by the history books.
Mosse explained that she wanted to give women’s voices a chance to be heard, and their stories a chance to be commemorated.
“In my research for my fiction, I've been constantly reminded how easily women's achievements disappear or are left out of the official history books, which is what inspired this campaign.”
Readers are able to nominate anyone who inspires them by using the hashtag #WomanInHistory on Instagram or Twitter. The “gallery of stars” will then be revealed on the Pan Macmillan website on International Women’s Day, 8 March.
“I’ve been blown away by everyone's enthusiasm and the huge numbers who've already engaged,” says Mosse.
“Within the first few days of launching, we've had thousands of nominations from all over the world including Russia, Poland, Syria, Iran, Canada, France, Spain, Ireland, Nigeria, Pakistan, Turkey, the UK, Germany. Women from the distant past, the middle and recent past, as well as those making history today.”
The campaign has also received overwhelming support from celebrity figures, including Kim Cattrall, Martina Navratilova, Lorraine Kelly, Richard Osman, Anthony Horowitz, Courttia Newland, Joanna Trollope, Arifa Akbar, and Adam Kay, to name but a few.
“It's a testament to how eager we are to honour exceptional, brilliant women from all periods of history, and from all corners of the world — particularly those whose names are less celebrated than they should be or whose achievements have been overshadowed or misattributed — as well as acknowledging that we walk in their footsteps,” says Mosse.
“The #WomanInHistory campaign is part of a broader movement to put women's names and stories centre stage and I think it's think it's a positive sign of how, in these rather grim times, we want to celebrate courage, sisterhood, diversity and inclusivity and show gratitude to those who have come before us.”
