Anonymous was a woman

“No time like the present.”

“E.T. phone home.”

“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

What do all of these quotations have in common? According to an article in Yale Alumni Magazine, they were all written by women. Fred R. Shapiro’s “Anonymous was a woman” is a fascinating but not surprising look at the way women’s work has been forgotten or incorrectly attributed to men. Women’s accomplishments are often overlooked in the history books. And even when they have great talent they feel the need to write under male names to appeal to a wider audience. That tradition stretches from the Brontë sisters 150 years ago to J.K. Rowling, the most successful author of modern times. Maybe someday we’ll get to the point where women’s successes are recognized at the same level men’s are.