Nina Ansary takes Virginia Woolf’s oft misquoted statement “Anonymous is a Woman” and writes compellingly about the oppression of women in today’s society, the effects of that and then she highlights 50 women who have failed to be seen in history despite their amazing impact.

Part one focuses on the way women’s successes have been kept in the shadows and Nina discusses the multiple ways women and men have fought for gender equality over the years.

Part two highlights the immense amount of work to be done to go train global gender equality. Nina shares statistics and stories of where we are lacking and how big the gap truely is.

“The 2018 report also gives us insight into future change, estimating that, if current trends continue, it will take another 108 years to close the global gender gap” - From “Anonymous Is a Woman” by Nina Ansary

As a woman born into privilege and democracy, it is easy to live without thinking of all the women who don’t have the freedom I have and all the women who fought to give me what freedom I do have.

“Around the world, women are given only [three-quarters] of the legal rights that men enjoy, constraining their ability to get jobs, start businesses, [and] make economic decisions that are best for them [and] their families.” - From “Anonymous Is a Woman” by Nina Ansary

In part three, Nina draws on a vast and diverse group of sources to build a robust economic case for gender equality too which is a perspective I’d not heard about before. She argues strongly for balance.

“The report estimates that, if gender equality in earnings is achieved, human capital wealth could increase by over 20 percent, and total global wealth could increase by 14 percent.” - From “Anonymous Is a Woman” by Nina Ansary

In part four, Nina dedicates half of the book to women who haven’t been seen in the pages of history, whose contributions have been overlooked. She chooses just 50, of which I had heard of only one, and each is a fascinating story of female tenacity, male support and phenomenal results which still impact life today. I’m sad that these women weren’t featured in my science, art or business classes.

“Scott Page asserts that if we are to reap the benefits of diversity, team members “cannot check their identities at the door. They must bring their whole selves—their identities, their experiences, their education and training—to achieve [diversity] bonuses.” In other words, success requires unity and difference.” - From “Anonymous Is a Woman” by Nina Ansary

This book is full of history but it is a page-turner, I read it in one sitting eager to hear more about the women who came before me and the work we still have ahead of us. I highly recommend it, it’s a five out of five on the enJOYment scale. This is one to share widely, with children and adults alike!

Anonymous Is a Woman: A Global Chronicle of Gender Inequality by Nina Ansary is a study of women's equality in the world and time.  Ansary is an Iranian–American historian and author best known for her work on women's equity in Iran. Ansary's research has notably countered conventional assumptions of the progress of women in Iran while continuing to advocate for full emancipation.

"I would venture to guess that Anon, who wrote so many poems without signing them, was often a woman." —Virginia Woolf

Woolf's original quote has evolved into the more straightforward "Anonymous is a woman."  The facts are the same in either version of the quote.  Women who make up over half the population of the world make up only a tiny part of recorded history.  Ansary examines the women's suffragette movement and its history as well as reviewing what makes a campaign successful.  Women fought for the end of slavery and were disappointed that the 15th Amendment, although allowing every man to vote it neglected to include women. Rather than banding together with African-American women and continuing to fight a division along racial lines now formed.  What stopped the Equal Rights Amendment from gaining support but allowed Rosa Parks to become a national hero and leader in Civil Rights? 

Today we here about the wage disparity of men's and women's wages in the same job, but many would think thinks have gotten much better.  Women authors like George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans) no longer hide their names because women writers are accepted as equal to men.  But how many people know what the J stands for in J. K. Rowlings? 

Women have made gains, and that is reflected in the Global Gender Gap scores, which examine many aspects of equality in politics, pay, health, freedom, opportunity, and education.  Not too surprising, three Scandinavian countries hold the top spot, and Africa and the Near East make up the bottom of the list.  Countries like Albania,  Rwanda,  Belarus, Mexico, Laos, Bangladesh, and Bulgaria, all rank above the United States.  The U.S. doesn't make it into the top 50.  

Ansary includes biographies of fifty women from ancient times to the near present from around the world who made important discoveries, literary contributions, and even a general.  Being fairly well-read and having an undergraduate degree in history, I thought I would have had to run across at least a few of these women in my studies.  The short answer is "no." I remember the leader of the Chilean independence movement, the leader of Algerian independence, the powerful Boyars of medieval Russia. Still, I can say I haven't heard of these fifty equally important women. 

Woolf also created a woman in history -- Judith Shakespeare.  William's sister was just as equally talented but equally rejected simply because she was a woman.  

"Now my belief is that this poet who never wrote a word and was buried at the cross-roads still lives. She lives in you and in me, and in many other women who are not here to-night, for they are washing up the dishes and putting the children to bed."

Women have made great strides despite society and their environment; However, much like the lower ranks of infantry that died breaking enemy lines and turned the course of the war, they are footnoted and individually forgotten. Women have come a long way, but unfortunately, they still have a long way to go to be truly equal. An enlightening read.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

This is a great book full of thought provoking information about fifty female innovators going back in history and discusses how women have been denied tge right and recognition through opportunities in life and discusses gender, discrimination and bias.
These fifty women have been forgotten over time and I was astonished that I could only count on one hand how many I had heard of.
I found this book an interesting read znd enjoyed discovering about these women in the biographical profiles created ad researched about each of them.