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Illustration of Rani Lakshmibai riding a white horse with her sword raised, leading women soldiers past a fort Herstory

Rani Lakshmibai: what the Rani of Jhansi teaches a 2026 girl

Widowed, refused her kingdom, then led her own troops in 1857. Her story, and what we take from it.

12 Nov 2026 · 3 min read Illustration of a woman sitting cross-legged with a dictionary, crossing out words on cards and throwing away crumpled paper Herstory

Unladylike Dictionary: 10 words they used against women

Virago, spinster, shrew and seven more. Where each word came from and why we are taking it back.

12 Nov 2026 · 4 min read Illustration of Cleopatra seated on a throne in a gold cobra crown and jewelled collar, with the Nile behind her Herstory

Cleopatra did her own PR

She learned the language her family never bothered with, staged her entrances and put her face on the money. A marketer reads the queen of Egypt.

12 Nov 2026 · 4 min read
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