“Whilst society still has a lot to learn about how to remove barriers to ensure equity, there is a need for disruptors like myself to act as a network of change-makers who call out bias and inspire others to have the courage to keep going and not give up.”
Tricia Lucas-Clarke
The second issue of our magazine-book Disruptors launches on International Women’s Day – March 8th 2023. This is available to order in digital and print versions.
The positive reception of the first issue of Disruptors encouraged us to create a second issue and keep going. We interviewed over 60 women, all disruptors in their own way.
This issue features women such as Golda Rosheuvel, Dr Bijna Kotak Dasani MBE, FRSA, Natasha Devon MBE, Shani Dhanda, Oluwaseyi Akiwowo, Maya Oppenheim, Lydia Amoah, Tobi Oredein, and many more brilliant women.
“Coming out of prison and learning that you now have a new label you must disclose to everyone is like having to disclose an STI – uncomfortable.”
Lady Unchained
They talked about their challenges, milestones, what makes them a disruptor, what inspires them, and the legacy they want to leave behind among other things.
“Suggesting my current job title of Women’s Correspondent to my editor and them creating the role for me at The Independent could be described as an example of challenging the status quo. Especially when you consider that I am the only Women’s Correspondent at a UK news outlet.”
Maya Oppenheim
“Living with my condition has been very unpredictable, but it’s not my condition that disables me. We live in a disabling and ableist world full of barriers and bias – that’s the disabling factor.” – Shani Dhanda
Interviewing these women was another reminder of how important it is to shine a light on more women. Their narrative made me feel so hopeful about our world when it is not always so easy to feel that way. Women are strong, unstoppable, and beautiful. They can achieve great things, and they do; we don’t always know about it because the spotlight is elsewhere.
“One of the biggest milestones I am proud of is being the first Black British female to have led the most comprehensive study in the world of research and to have been able to impact the world of research and change the approach to research.”
Lydia Amoah
Very often women are written out of the narrative. Only 0.5 per cent of recorded history is about women’s stories, 17.5 years out of 3,500 years. It is time to change that, and this is what our magazine-book series Disruptors, and more largely Violet Simon, is trying to do.
We touch on issues related to gender equality, mental health, discrimination, abuse, sustainability, disability, addiction, neurodiversity, etc. In this issue, we continue to reclaim the term ‘disruptors’, too often seen negatively. We discuss the need for disruptors in society, simply because every change starts with disruption.
“I had been sexually harassed early in my career, and the response from the organisation was poor but typical – I was actively discouraged from making a complaint and told to think of the impact on my career. I knew we had to do better for these women.” – Catherine Hinwood
Each story is packed with resources, insights and inspiration that leave an imprint, propel change on women’s issues, amplify and celebrate women, and let women take up space in their lives and society.
“Autistic humans, in particular, are very stereotyped and misunderstood and if we just get a chance to tell our own stories and own our own narrative it will give valuable insight into the world inside our minds. Invisible disability can be a bitch.”
Kirsti Hadley
This magazine-book series is a tribute to all women challenging the status quo.
Get a copy of Disruptors Issue 2 here and RSVP to the launch event here.