14 Trailblazing Women Who Disguised Themselves as Men to Fight for Their Dreams

Did you know that during the American Civil War, it’s estimated that between 400 and 1,000 women fought disguised as men?1 Throughout history, countless women have been held back by societal expectations and gender norms. But some brave trailblazers refused to let their dreams be stifled.

These determined women took on male identities, risking everything to break barriers in fields from literature to the military. Their stories are ones of courage, defiance, and an unshakable will to forge their own paths, no matter the obstacles

Here are 14 women who disguised themselves as men and forever changed the course of history.

1. Rena ‘Rusty’ Kanokogi

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In 1959, Rusty Kanokogi entered a YMCA judo championship disguised as a man. She won the fight but was stripped of her medal when her true gender was revealed. This experience fueled Kanokogi’s determination to make women’s judo an Olympic sport.

Thanks to her tireless efforts, women’s judo became an exhibition sport at the 1984 Los Angeles Games and gained full medal status in 1988 in Seoul. Kanokogi, known as the mother of women’s judo, was awarded Japan’s highest honor for a foreigner in 2008 before passing away in 2009 at age 74.

2. Anna Maria Lane

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During the American Revolution, Anna Maria Lane longed to fight alongside her husband, John, in the Continental Army. So, in 1776, she disguised herself as a man and enlisted, serving in battles across New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Georgia.

Lane’s true identity likely went undetected until she was wounded at the Battle of Germantown in 1777. In recognition of her service, her bravery earned her a $100 annual pension for life. Lane died on June 13, 1810, in her mid-fifties, leaving behind a legacy of courage and determination.

3. Deborah Sampson

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Image Credit: Engraving by George Graham. From a drawing by William Beastall, which was based on a painting by Joseph Stone., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Deborah Sampson became the only woman to earn a full military pension for fighting in the American Revolutionary War. Disguised as a man named Robert Shurtleff, Sampson joined the Patriot forces in 1782 after working as a teacher.

During her two years of service before her gender was discovered, Sampson led 30 infantrymen on an expedition, captured 15 men, dug trenches, and faced cannon fire. After an honorable discharge in 1783, she toured as a lecturer, sharing her experience while dressed in full military regalia until she died in 1827 at age 66.

4. James Barry

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Dr. James Barry had a distinguished career as a military surgeon and Inspector General in the British Army during the 1800s. He vastly improved conditions at military hospitals under his command. But a shocking secret was revealed upon his death in 1865.

An examination of the body showed that Dr. Barry was anatomically female. Historical records indicate Barry was born Margaret Ann Bulkley. She lived as a man to pursue a medical career at a time when women were barred from the profession. Dr. Barry carried this secret identity to the grave in order to realize her dreams.

5. Charlotte Brontë

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Image Credit: Painted by Evert A. Duyckinck, based on a drawing by George Richmond, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

19th-century English novelist Charlotte Brontë originally published works like her masterpiece “Jane Eyre” under the male pen name Currer Bell. Brontë and her writer sisters Emily and Anne all adopted masculine pseudonyms, fearing their work would face prejudice if they were published under female names.

In fact, the trio’s first published work was a joint collection of poems credited to Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell – the alter egos of Charlotte, Emily, and Anne, respectively. By shielding their true identities, the immensely talented Brontë sisters ensured their writing would be judged on its own merits in a male-dominated literary world.

6. Elisa Bernerström

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The story of a woman disguising herself as a man to go to war extends beyond the legend of Mulan to real-life cases like Elisa Bernerström. During the Finnish War between Sweden and Russia in the early 1800s, Bernerström posed as a male soldier to serve in the Swedish army.

Few details are known about Bernerström’s military exploits. But her willingness to risk everything to fight for her country has earned her a place in the history books alongside other women who defied convention to pursue their callings, even if it meant hiding their true selves.

7. Malinda Blalock

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Malinda Blalock was a North Carolina woman who disguised herself as a male soldier to fight for the Confederacy during the U.S. Civil War. Her ruse was discovered and she was discharged, but Blalock promptly re-enlisted, this time as a Union soldier to fight alongside her husband.

The couple eventually deserted and became outlaws. They raided both Union and Confederate supporters before eventually settling down to farming after the war. While her motivations were complex, Blalock’s tenacity and disregard for gender roles made her a legendary figure.

8. Norah Vincent

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In more recent times, writer Norah Vincent undertook an immersive experiment, living disguised as a man for 18 months. Her experiences infiltrating all-male spheres like a monastery, a strip club, and a bowling league formed the basis for her 2006 book “Self-Made Man.”

Vincent’s insights shed light on gender relations and the challenges of male identity in the modern world. While not a permanent gender transition, Vincent’s social experiment required her to maintain an alternate identity for an extended period, giving her a unique cross-gender perspective.

9. Mary Ann Evans

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Like Charlotte Brontë, 19th-century English author Mary Ann Evans adopted a male pen name – George Eliot – to publish novels like “Middlemarch” free of gendered expectations. Evans felt a masculine nom de plume would help her work be taken seriously.

Writing under her Eliot persona, Evans produced some of the most acclaimed novels of the Victorian era. Her sweeping tales of provincial English life explored themes of social reform, religion, and the changing role of women with a psychological depth that set her apart from many of her contemporaries.

10. Sarah Edmonds

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Canadian-born Sarah Edmonds was another woman who disguised herself as a man to serve in the American Civil War. Edmonds worked as a field nurse and spy for the Union Army under a male alias.

After the war, Edmonds was able to resume living openly as a woman, working as a nurse at a soldiers’ hospital in Washington, D.C. She later became the only woman admitted to the Grand Army of the Republic, a fraternal organization for Union veterans.

11. Joan of Arc

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One of the most famous historical examples of a woman posing as a man for a higher cause is the 15th-century French peasant Joan of Arc. Guided by divine visions, Joan dressed as a male soldier to lead the French army during the Hundred Years’ War.

Though just a teenager, Joan scored key victories against the English. But she was eventually captured and burned at the stake for heresy at age 19. Despite her tragic end, Joan of Arc is revered as a heroine of France and was sainted by the Catholic Church in 1920.

12. Catalina de Erauso

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Catalina de Erauso was a 17th-century Spanish adventurer who lived as a man under the name Antonio de Erauso. After escaping a convent at age 15, Erauso traveled to the New World colonies, where she worked as a soldier and gambler.

Erauso’s exploits across Chile, Peru, and Bolivia became the stuff of legend. Her true sex was only discovered after she was injured in a duel. Erauso received special dispensation from the Pope to continue dressing as a man and eventually published a sensationalized memoir of her swashbuckling life.

13. Frances Clayton

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Frances Clayton was one of several hundred women who disguised themselves as men to fight in the American Civil War. She enlisted in the Union Army alongside her husband, Elmer.

When Elmer was killed at the Battle of Stones River, Frances continued to fight, driven by a need for vengeance. Her identity was eventually discovered and she was discharged. Little is known of Clayton’s life after the war, but her story reflects the lengths some women went to in order to serve their country.

14. Jennie Hodgers

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Irish immigrant Jennie Hodgers lived most of her life as a man under the name Albert Cashier. Hodgers disguised herself as Cashier to enlist in the Union Army during the U.S. Civil War, serving a full three-year term.

After the war, Hodgers continued living as Cashier, working various manual labor jobs in Illinois. Her secret was only discovered in 1913 when she was hit by a car, and doctors discovered her sex. Hodgers’ wishes to be buried in her Union uniform under her male identity were respected after she died in 1915.

These 14 remarkable women refused to let their dreams be limited by their sex. By taking on male identities, they broke down barriers, served their countries, and left an indelible mark on history. Their courage and determination inspire new generations to defy expectations and fight for equality.

Source:

  1. Smithsonian Magazine
Martha A. Lavallie
Martha A. Lavallie
Author & Editor | + posts

Martha is a journalist with close to a decade of experience in uncovering and reporting on the most compelling stories of our time. Passionate about staying ahead of the curve, she specializes in shedding light on trending topics and captivating global narratives. Her insightful articles have garnered acclaim, making her a trusted voice in today's dynamic media landscape.