Women's Literary Disguises

By: V. Srur

George Elliot, George Sand, Currer, Ellis and Acton;  What do all these names have in common? 

Above are women who wanted to be in the field of literature in the 18th century and had to pursue drastic measures to fulfil their desire to publish any form of article or book, which is something that should not require authorization. These names above represent not just writers but are used to disguise some of the best female literature representatives there ever was!  

Most women back then would disguise themselves by writing under a male pen name or publish their work anonymously to avoid gender bias, to increase chances of acknowledgement. For many, it was not to break free from preconceived gender norms, but instead to express themselves in other ways in society at the time viewed as inadequate, so for women to break free of the stereotypes of women’s lack of intelligence and culture, disguising themselves as someone who is usually respected in society would give them an advantage in the selection process to be published.  

Here follows some facts about each author which did not have to persevere through inequality, but did and became successful: 
- Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin, more widely known as the French novelist George Sand, authored countless novels and short stories, becoming a literary icon in nineteenth-century Europe. She adopted the pen name "George Sand" to gain credibility in a male-dominated literary world, this allowed her to publish her works without the prejudices faced by female authors of the time. Her works often featured strong, independent female characters who defied societal expectations. 
 - Mary Ann Evans, also known as George Eliot was a major figure in Victorian literature, known for her realistic and psychologically insightful novels. She brought a new level of intellectual depth and moral complexity to the English novel. She adopted the pseudonym to avoid being stereotyped as a female writer. Experiencing the same obstacles as her predecessors, at the time literature by women was still dismissed and ultimately domestic. 
- Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë all became celebrated authors, beginning their careers using the names Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell. In 1846, they published their first volume of poetry under these names. The sister is known for writing classics like Jane Eyre and Withering heights. The Brontë sisters knew that female writers wouldn't be taken seriously, and might even be criticized by society. After, sending their poetry to the Poet Laureate Robert Southey, Charlotte received a response letter saying, 'literature cannot be the business of a woman's life.' Which made them ultimately consider hiding under male names. 
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Use them as an example to when you feel you need empowerment to write freely. Their story resulted in this way so women globally can now feel comfortable in writing freely without hiding under pages!