A new essay collection titled “The Women Who Wouldn’t Wheesht,” set for publication on May 30th, will feature a contribution from author J.K. Rowling, explaining her decision to lend her global voice to the campaign for protecting women’s sex-based rights in Scotland. The book, co-edited by The Scotsman columnist Susan Dalgety and author Lucy Hunter Blackburn, chronicles a five-year grassroots movement by women in Scotland who fought to safeguard the rights of women amidst proposed legislation aimed at simplifying the process for individuals to legally change their gender without a medical diagnosis.
In her essay, Rowling, the Harry Potter author, will shed light on her motivations for using her influential platform to “stand up for women” during this heated debate, which raised concerns about potential threats to women’s rights.
The collection, published by Constable, an imprint of the Little, Brown Book Group, will feature over 30 essays from various contributors, including MP Joanna Cherry, MSP Ash Regan, and former prison governor Rhona Hotchkiss. Constable publishing director Andreas Campomar emphasized the significance of Rowling’s involvement, stating, “These women risked their jobs and reputations, not to say their friendships and family ties, to speak out. The contributors in this book show how a climate was created, one in which true political change could occur. These are the women who wouldn’t wheesht.” The publishers describe the book as “the story of women who risked their job, reputation, even the bonds of family and friendship, to make their voices heard, and ended up – unexpectedly – contributing to the downfall of Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first woman first minister.”
Rowling’s decision to contribute an essay to “The Women Who Wouldn’t Wheesht” underscores her commitment to advocating for women’s rights amidst the ongoing debate surrounding gender recognition and its implications for women in Scotland.
