Mary studied classics at Newnham College, Cambridge and became a Professor in 1984 where she was the only female lecturer in the Classics Department. She is now a fellow of the college.

She has been described by the Guardian as "Britain's best-known classicist".

Mary has made many historical documentaries with the BBC, which you may have even watched clips from when studying Pompeii (Pompeii: Life and Death in a Roman Town).

Even though most of her career could have been included as part of third wave Feminism, she has become most recognised during the fourth wave, due to her strong reaction to online abuse.

Critic A A Gill reviewed her programmes with a huge focus on her appearance and concluded that she was, "too ugly for television". Her response was very powerful: She mentioned, "the blokeish culture that loves to decry clever women". By this, she meant that she was irritated by how men seek to degrade and put down clever women. By standing up for herself she has since faced online abuse.

By having to defend herself, she brought in a new public debate about older women's presence in the media and how this can bring a positive diversity of alternative ways of 'being a woman'.

Despite this, she is constantly being criticised and asked about her 'self-presentation' rather than about her actual work such as 'Women & Power', 2017.

She delivers lectures on the public voice of women, which has now become a huge passion for the activism in her career.

Lucy studied Philosophy, Politics and Sociology in the 1990s at the University of Cambridge and became a Fellow of Murray Edwards College, Cambridge in 2015.

She teaches and writes on the history of feminism, working women's lives, disability and the history of sexualities.

You might recognise her from the 'The Rising Tide' video from our first lesson. This video was about women's herstory at the University of Cambridge.

The Rising Tide has become a huge project, putting her into the fourth wave, as she uses the media and exhibitions to educate both Cambridge locals and wider society about women's struggles at the University of Cambridge.

Along with Dr Ben Griffin, also featured in the clip, they have curated the lives and experiences of women at the University.

They have displayed this in two powerful exhibitions which highlighted the opposition and oppression women faced from the institution as well as the hostility they faced when trying to gain equal rights to their male peers. 

Lucy's latest book, 'Feminisms: A Global History' looks at differences in feminism across different countries. 

Laura studied at St John's College, Cambridge and remembers having a male professor who still wore a black armband once a year to mourn female students being allowed to study there!

She is a feminist writer and has written many groundbreaking books about sexism, one of the most fascinating: Everyday Sexism (2014) followed her Everyday Sexism Project (2012).

As you saw in the video, this project aimed to collect 100 entries from women telling their own experiences of sexism on a day-to-day basis. These could include both serious and minor happenings. This is a site for women to share their stories and show the world that sexism DOES EXIST and is faced by women every day, making it a valid discussion! The aim was also to help women realise that they are not alone and that others are experiencing similar things to them.

From the initial goal of 100 entries, there are now over 80,000. 

Another of her books that has also changed perceptions on sexism is: 'Girl Up' (2016) .

Bates' book tells us that it is girls who should be admired for their perseverance and strength and so the phrase 'man up' should be changed to 'girl up'.

She also argues that the phrase 'man up' is damaging for boys and men as, over time, they internalise the idea that they aren't allowed to express emotions as that's 'not how a real man behaves'. It also teaches them that being emotional is a young or female trait that should be grown out of. The book works as a handbook to help teenagers deal with some of the problems they will face as a result of sexism that is around today. 

In May 2020, Laura was made an Honorary Fellow of St John's College - the most prestigious award the college can bestow - in recognition of her exceptional contribution to the feminist movement.