Humanist icons: celebrating the women who changed history

For over 130 years, women in the humanist movement have been a radical voice for progress.  Our history is marked by stories of humanist women who had to endure accusations of ‘blasphemy’, ‘unwomanly’ behaviour, or being ‘hysterical’ when speaking up for humanism or challenging the influence of religion in society. Yet they persisted – dismantling legal barriers to owning property, earning a wage, entering ‘male-only’ professions or higher education, and securing the fundamental right to vote. Most radically, it was women in the humanist movement – such as Diane Munday – who led the charge for bodily autonomy in the 19th and 20th centuries, risking imprisonment to pioneer access to birth control and legalise reproductive healthcare – making sure that women, not the church or state, would finally take control of their own futures.

True radicals

It’s a time to celebrate the enormous contribution women have made to humanism and to social progress. We honour pioneers like Emma Martin, the ‘blasphemous’ 19th-century lecturer, and Florence Dixie, the war correspondent, suffragist, and first president of the British Ladies’ Football Club. We follow in the footsteps of writers such as Mary Wollstonecraft, George Eliot, and Lorraine Hansberry, and scientists like Marie Curie and Rosalind Franklin, who transformed our understanding of the natural world. And there was Margaret Knight, whose seminal radio broadcasts about ‘morality without religion’ led to her being castigated by sexist tabloids as a foolish woman allowed to run wild by the lenient men in her life. You can listen to Alice Roberts’ lecture about the ‘Unholy Mrs Knight’ on our YouTube channel, as well as the stories of many more remarkable humanist women on our Humanist Heritage website.

The fight is not over

But the struggle for equality is far from over. While we recently succeeded in securing safe access zones around abortion clinics in England and Wales and in Northern Ireland to protect women from harassment, reproductive rights remain under threat. Around the world, we are seeing how quickly hard-won freedoms can be rolled back. We’ve raised the alarm about how the new rise of Christian Nationalism, imported from the United States, threatens the progress that generations of women fought so hard to secure. By seeking to impose religious dogma on public law, these movements endanger women’s freedoms. As we mark Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, we honour those pioneers not just by remembering them, but by continuing the fight they began.

Humanist Heritage

Humanist Heritage was first launched to mark 125 years of Humanists UK in 2021, and to fill the gaps in a historical narrative which often leaves out the non-religious. Too often, accounts of social progress focus on religious institutions or figures, overlooking the contributions of those who worked from explicitly secular or humanist perspectives. Humanist Heritage was created to document, preserve, and share these overlooked histories, making sure that the role of humanist thinkers, activists, and communities – so many of which were led by women – is recognised as an integral part of the wider story of social reform, science, and human rights.

During the first months of 2025, Humanist Heritage wrapped up our National Lottery Heritage Fund project, Doers, Dreamers, Place Makers, which reached hundreds of thousands of people, involved dozens of volunteers, and delivered a dynamic programme of events – from banner making to a summer fair. Since, we’ve continued at pace: delving into the archives, launching new resources, and engaging with history lovers across the country.

This history is important, not just to correct the record but to give impetus and inspiration to our work today. Looking back can be a painful reminder of just how long we’ve been fighting some battles, from inclusive education to the eradication of blasphemy laws, but it’s also a reminder that – even if it takes decades or centuries – change does happen, and it’s human beings who bring about that change. Whether it’s achieving the right to affirm, expanding and defending reproductive freedoms, providing humanist ceremonies, or creating enduring works of art, there is much to be proud of, and plenty still to do!