Gender Rebels: 50 Influential Cross-Dressers, Impersonators, Name-Changers, and Game-Changers

(Paperback)

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Meet the unsung sheroes of history: the diverse, defiant and daring (wo)men who changed the rules, and their identities, to get sh*t done.

You'll encounter Kit Cavanagh, the swaggering Irish dragoon who was the first woman to be buried in London with full military honours; marauding eighteenth-century pirates Mary Read and Anne Bonny, who collided on the high seas after swapping their petticoats for pantaloons; Ellen Craft, an escaped slave who masqueraded as a white master to spirit her husband-to-be to freedom; and Billy Tipton, the swinging jazz musician, who led a double life as a man, taking five wives along the way. Then there are the women who still have to dress like men to live their best lives, like the inspirational football-lovers in Iran, who risk everything to take their place in the stands.

A call to action for the modern world, this book celebrates the #GenderRebels who paved the way for women everywhere to be soldiers and spies; kings and queens; firefighters, doctors, pilots; and a Swiss Army knife's-worth more. These superbly spirited (wo)men all had one thing in common: they defied the rules to progress in a man's world.

'Essential readinga funny, beautiful, powerful guide to the unsung heroesPeople of the earth: read this book, you will never look at gender the same again.' Scarlett Curtis, author ofFeminists Don't Wear Pink and Other Lies

'Brilliant! Anneka Harry has achieved something special and I feel inspired and galvanized after reading it.' Gemma Cairney, broadcaster

Reviews

Essential readinga funny, beautiful, powerful guide to the unsung heroesPeople of the earth: read this book, you will never look at gender the same again. Scarlett Curtis, author of Feminists Dont Wear Pink and Other Lies Brilliant! Anneka Harry has achieved something special and I feel inspired and galvanized after reading it. Gemma Cairney, broadcaster

Author Bio

Anneka Harry hates bios because 1) its awkweird talking about yourself in the third person, and 2) pinning down a job title for herself is like exiting a swimming pool without a wedgie (impossible). She wants to do it ALL. If Anneka was pushed to describe herself in a nutshell she would say shes a Comedy Hustler (Performer, Producer, Writer, Etc.). The etc. leaves it open so that she can pursue whatever she decides to do tomorrow. Her writer/performer work consists of series, episodes and features for the BBC, Channel 4, ITV2, Radio 4, MTV and various online platforms including Stylist and Grazia magazines. When Anneka isnt parading around waving rainbow flags or trying to win feminism, she likes to be a thoroughly decent human being, drink alcohol (all types) and obsess over her sausage dog. The amount of work there is to do in the fight for equality gives Anneka regular stress migraines. She hopes this book (her first) will at least momentarily soothe anyone feeling equally overwhelmed.