A Decade of Dangerous Women

The Dangerous Women Project began at the University of Edinburgh on International Women's Day 2016, asking "what does it mean to be a dangerous woman?" A decade on, the Project has produced over 350 essays, three brilliant books, a whole host of events and a community of authors around the world.

As International Women's Day 2026 on 8 March approaches, we invite you to join us for a celebration of Dangerous Women. A new generation of writers will offer short insights into their own favourite women from history and the modern day, and copies of all three books will be available to view.

From educator and activist Chief Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti of Nigeria to priestess Baliana from the Philippines, not to mention Nancy Cunard, Marielle Franco and more, these stories of resistance and resilience will add to the rich tapestry woven since 2016. In the words of Mary Beard, the Project is "a great chance to explore what we expect of women, of how they should behave and of what counts as women ‘stepping out of the line’."

Lineup:

Elsie C. Albis on Baliana, a priestess from Bikol in the Philippines. She existed before colonisation and has been paganised, but her memory and presence in the lives of Bikolnons are now being reclaimed.

Kate Ash-Irisarri on Isabel, Countess of Buchan (13th/14th century). She took a vital role in Robert the Bruce’s inauguration, but was written out of Scottish history and vilified in English sources.

Anna Girling on Nancy Cunard (1896-1965), a British writer, publisher, editor and activist. Cunard’s anti-colonial and anti-fascist writings from the 1930s make her a figure of immense relevance for today.

Helen Shutt on Chief Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (1900-1978), a Nigerian educator and women's rights activist, dubbed the 'Lioness of Lasabi'. Less well-known than her son Fela Kuti ('founder' of afrobeat), she was a formidable advocate for women's rights and education, and in particular challenging the crippling taxes imposed on market women by the colonial administration.

Georgi Gill on Anna Burns (1962-), a Northern Irish novelist who won the 2018 Booker for Milkman. Politics, society and gender are deeply imprinted in all her work, exploring what it is to be a woman during the Troubles in voices that are both experimental and deeply recognizable. Burns is also disabled by chronic ill health which has led to her being, at times, impoverished and homeless, and probably the only Booker winner to thank a housing charity and a foodbank in her acceptance speech.

Jéssica Hipolito on Marielle Franco (1979–2018), a Black, queer Brazilian sociologist, human rights activist, and city councillor in Rio de Janeiro, who fought against police violence, racism, and gender inequality, focusing particularly on the rights of favela residents, Black women, and LGBTQ+ communities. She was assassinated in 2018, and her life and death have become a global symbol of resistance to authoritarianism and state violence.

Sheelalipi Sahana on Gulfisha Fatima (1993-), an Indian Muslim political prisoner incarcerated under the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, for challenging anti-Muslim citizenship laws and the crackdown on illegal migration. Her resilience to repeatedly being denied bail and imprisoned without trial stood as a testament to her belief in upholding the Indian Constitution’s human rights mandate.

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This event will also be livestreamed via Teams. Click here to register for virtual attendance.

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This is a free event, which means we overbook to allow for no-shows and to avoid empty seats. While we generally do not have to turn people away, this does mean we cannot guarantee everyone a place. Admission is on a first-come, first-served basis.

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Accessibility:

This event will take place at IASH, 2 Hope Park Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9NW. Please see a map here: https://www.iash.ed.ac.uk/location

The Seminar Room is on the first floor, and unfortunately IASH does not have a lift. If you have mobility issues and would like to discuss access, please contact [email protected] as soon as possible.

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Host or Publisher Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities