Awake not Sleeping: Rewriting the Narrative

As Virginia Woolf famously wrote, “For most of history, Anonymous was a woman.” For centuries, women’s voices in literature were overlooked, erased, or hidden behind anonymity. Today, women are reclaiming their place in world literature, challenging stereotypes, and reshaping the narratives that define our societies.

Marking the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, this panel, inspired by “Awake Not Sleeping: Reimagining Fairy Tales for a New Generation,”a 2021 UN Women’s collection of 28 powerful stories from across Europe and Central Asia,” brings together well-known writers from the region to explore how literature can influence and challenge social norms for everyone, not only reflecting change but also sparking it. By reclaiming stories, debunking stereotypes, and amplifying women’s experiences, literature can be a powerful tool to drive equality, freedom, and inclusion. The discussion will highlight how women’s writing can transform perspectives, open space for dialogue, and inspire new generations to imagine a more equal world.