Dalit, from the Sanskrit दलित, meaning ‘broken’ or ‘scattered’ is the lowest stratum of the Indian caste system. Otherwise referred to as ‘untouchables’, its people exist outside the traditional hierarchy. Dalit women are said to be one of the world’s most oppressed groups.
Writers
Women in Horror: Regina Maria Roche
Regina Maria Roche’s legacy is that of a ‘minor’ Gothic writer, paling in comparison to the likes of Ann Radcliffe and Mary Shelley. Yet, during her lifetime, she was widely celebrated, some of her novels becoming bestsellers and appearing in numerous editions and languages.
LGBTQ+ Couples: Virginia Woolf and Vita Sackville-West
"I am reduced to a thing that wants Virginia..." The love affair of Virginia Woolf and Vita Sackville-West was colourful and lively, and the impact the two women had on each other and their work can scarcely be measured.
U is for… Undercover
The 1880s and 1890s were the heyday for undercover, stunt journalism. In a field where women had always been pushed to the margins, many female journalists found their niche in the stunt genre, going undercover in often dangerous situations, and later publishing scandalous exposés.
T is for… Telesilla
Telesilla was an ancient Greek poet who lived during the 5th century BC. Only fragments of her work have survived to this day, but it is not her poetry which she is most renowned for: she was also a famed warrior.
K is for… Kamala Surayya
Women writers have been present in India for millennia, evidence stretching back to 600 BC. Among them numbers Kamala Surayya, a ground-breaking poet whose honest and frank discussions of women's sexuality continues inspiring people to this day.
A is for… Anna Komnene
Somewhat appropriately, we are kicking 2021 off with the story of the first female historian, Anna Komnene. Her work, the Alexiad, is one of the most important primary sources of 11th and 12th century Byzantine history - her work is invaluable to historians today.
Phillis Wheatley – A Revolutionary Poet
In 1761, a young girl of seven or eight was taken from her home and sold into slavery. She became Phillis Wheatley, a woman who is now known as the first African-American author of a published book of poetry.