Megan Hardiman

• The Paradox of Gertrude Bell: Social Justice, Imperialism, and Women’s Rights
• BA Hons English Literature with Creative Writing

The explorer, archaeologist, and policy-maker Gertrude Bell was a leading figure in British political interventions in the Middle East in the early twentieth century. Her contributions to the fields of archaeology, geography, and politics are still well-known and celebrated today, but what has received less critical attention in scholarly and public-facing research is her work for the Anti-Suffrage League. Indeed, Bell is complex figure, whose legacy is centred around female empowerment, and yet, she also actively worked to limit the electoral franchise for her fellow contemporary sisters. In an online exhibition, created using the platform Shorthand, I will showcase Bell’s life by documenting her political work in the Middle East and comparing her presence abroad to her role as Honorary Secretary for the Anti-Suffrage League in England. As such, this project considers how we can grapple with the multifaceted legacies of complex historical figures.

Funded by: Newcastle University Research Scholarship

Project Supervisor: Dr Stacy Gillis