Gender Rebels

Includes audio exclusive bonus material: The powerful line-up of Suranne Jones, Maya Jama, Gemma Cairney and Anneka Harry discuss their favourite Gender Rebels, feminism, their female role models and how women are missing (or misrepresented) in the history books.

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 18th-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 an adult, taking five wives along the way. 

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.

'If you were to ask me which three women I’d want to be stuck in a lift with it would be Gemma Cairney, Maya Jama and Suranne Jones - so I’m delighted we got locked in a recording studio together instead to voice my Gender Rebels audiobook! Recording my debut book alongside this super smart and shiny star line-up was a proper ‘pinch me’ moment. Each of them brought their own unique talent, experience, heart and soul to the stories to make this the absolute boss of audiobooks (...if I do say so myself!)’ Anneka Harry Anneka Harry hates bios because 1) it’s 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 she’s 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 isn’t 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.

‘Many of the women in Gender Rebels had no choice but to disguise their gender, often risking their lives in the process. They were extremely courageous and that alone is inspiring. Most of the stories in Gender Rebels will be unfamiliar, so making them a part of our history is crucial. It means so much for people who are experiencing their own complex feelings around gender. Anneka Harry’s humour and insight made it a joy to read’ BAFTA-winning actor Suranne Jones

‘I believe that young women can succeed, no matter where they started from. But girls need to believe in themselves and what they can achieve - which is why I want everyone to listen to Gender Rebels and learn about the people who grabbed life by the balls – girls who hustled, broke the rules, and smashed it.’ TV and Radio presenter Maya Jama

‘Gender Rebels is bloody brilliant! Anneka Harry has achieved something special and I feel inspired and galvanised after reading it. I had a blast recording the audiobook and it is a thrill to be part of this superstellar power-squad of voices.’ Gemma Cairney, award-winning broadcaster, author and activist

‘Essential reading…a funny, beautiful, powerful guide to the unsung heroes…People of the earth: read this book, you will never look at gender the same again.’ Scarlett Curtis, author of Feminists Don’t Wear Pink and Other Lies