The Science of Strong Women: The True Stories Behind Your Favorite Fictional Feminists

by Rhiannon Lee, Alice Needham (Illustrator)

Overview

Discover all there is to know about strong women in fiction: Hermione Granger, Wonder Woman, Princess Leia, and more!

A strong woman is not just a badass lady who solves her problems with a high kick and a sassy comeback, all the while looking fabulous in a cape (although the cape is a plus!). A strong woman is a pioneer for bravery, intelligence, determination, and social justice for all.

Compelling, humorous, and brilliantly illustrated in equal measures, The Science of Strong Women showcases a collection of fifty fantastic fictional feminists we all know and love. Through media analysis and awe-inspiring discoveries, this inspirational guide delves deeper into female-forward fiction and features a truly diverse collection of strong women including:

• June Osborne
• Star Carter
• Katniss Everdeen
• Elizabeth Bennet
• Éowyn
• Jo March
• Buffy Summers
• And many more

Here’s to strong women. May we know them, may we be them, and may we learn from them with The Science of Strong Women.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781510770874
Publisher:	Skyhorse
Publication date:	08/02/2022
Series:	The Science of
Pages:	216
Sales rank:	1,048,512
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Rhiannon Lee holds a PhD in chemistry and is a strong campaigner for the recognition of women in science. She hopes to bring her own experience of how strong women have influenced her own life and the decisions she makes today. Rhiannon resides in the United Kingdom.
 

Table of Contents

Foreword vii

Introduction xi

Part 1 Girls Who Run the World 1

Alice, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland series 3

Mary Lennox, The Secret Garden 6

Lucy Pevensie, The Chronicles of Narnia series 9

George (Georgina), The Famous Five series 12

Pippi Longstocking, Pippi Longstocking series 15

Matilda Wormwood, Matilda 18

Anne Shirley, Anne of Green Gables series 21

Part 2 Teenage Drama Queens 25

Wednesday Addams, The Addams Family 27

Persephone Hadley, Noughts & Crosses series 30

Nancy Drew, Nancy Drew series 33

Starr Carter, The Hate U Give 36

Buffy Summers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer 39

Carmen Lowell, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 42

Part 3 Magical Maidens 45

Hermione Granger, Harry Potter franchise 47

Meg Murry, A Wrinkle in Time 50

Sabrina Spellman, Sabrina the Teenage Witch 53

Zélie Adebola, Children of Blood and Bone 56

Circe, Greek legend 59

Part 4 Dystopian Divas 63

June Osborne (Offred), The Handmaid's Tale 65

Hester Shaw, Mortal Engines 68

Katniss Everdeen, The Hunger Games series 71

Part 5 School Madams 75

Hester Prynne, The Scarlet Letter 77

Scout Finch, To Kill a Mockingbird 80

Becky Sharp, Vanity Fair 83

Celie, The Color Purple 86

Elizabeth Bennet, Pride and Prejudice 89

Wilhelmina (Mina) Harker, Dracula 92

Part 6 Fierce Females of Fantasy 95

Éowyn, The Lord of the Rings franchise 97

Arya Stark, A Song of Ice and Fire series 100

Lyra Belacqua, His Dark Materials 103

Part 7 Comedy Queens 107

Elle Woods, Legally Blonde 109

Mindy Lahiri, The Mindy Project 113

Leslie Knope, Parks and Recreation 116

Phoebe Buffay, Friends 120

Part 8 Badass Babes 123

Fleabag, Fleabag 125

Annie Easton, Shrill 128

Doralee Rhodes, 9 to 5 131

Sophia Burset, Orange Is the New Black 134

Part 9 Heroines of Herstory 137

Peggy Carter, Agent Carter 139

Tracy Turnblad, Hairspray 142

Orlando, Orlando: A Biography 145

To March. Little Women 148

Part 10 Wonderful Warrior Women 151

Lara Croft, Tomb Raider franchise 153

Okoye, Black Panther 156

Diana Prince, Wonder Woman 159

Mulan, Disney's Mulan 162

Xena, Xena: Warrior Princess 165

Part 11 Galactic Gals 169

Ellen Ripley, Alien franchise 171

Princess Leia Organa, Star Wars franchise 174

Lieutenant Nyota Uhura, Star Trek franchise 177

Index 180

Editorial Reviews

Rhiannon Lee has compiled the ultimate collection of fictional feminist heroes across literature and pop culture without shying away from problematic histories—a master class in the deeply feminist tension of critiquing and celebrating cultural icons in the same breath. From the characters we met in high school lit to the characters in our Netflix queue, The Science of Strong Women is a must-read book for all the Starr Carters, Leslie Knopes, and Leia Organas out there.”
—Renee M. Powers, founder of FeministBookClub.com

“A total sensation! Beautifully illustrated frank, funny, and an inclusive guide to true feminism and some of the world’s greatest badass babes. Girl power!”
—Ella Norman, The Pink Room
 

From the Publisher