Guardian writer Frances Ryan has been named one of Vogue magazine’s 25 women “defining Britain”, stating her work covering the rights of disabled people had become “essential reading”.
The publication said Ryan’s efforts to spotlight the lives of disabled people were “needed more than ever”, with official statistics suggesting that a quarter of people in the UK report some kind of disability. It has been an increasing proportion of the population since 2014.
Vogue, which has run the list since 2018, pointed to Ryan’s work “lifting the lid on the government’s cuts to disability benefits or giving insight into highly emotive topics such as the assisted dying bill”. It also praised her recent book, Who Wants Normal?– published in April this year.
Ryan said: “It’s ironic – or just very fitting – that I made the list in part because of a book I wrote this year arguing disabled women deserve a place in British culture.
“I’m really touched to be included and I hope it’s another step in the climb to see many more women that look like me (and a lot that don’t).”
Her recent work has included coverage of a letter signed by more than 100 of the UK’s most high-profile disabled people calling on Keir Starmer to abandon “inhumane and catastrophic plans to cut disability benefits”.
The Vogue 25 also recognised Amal Clooney, the human rights barrister. She was recognised for her work defending “those who have suffered systemic abuse, particularly women and girls who have been victims of sexual violence”.
It also included England footballer Lucy Bronze, whose aunt once threatened to sue the FA over a rule that meant Bronze was no longer allowed to play with boys’ teams at the age of 12. The current Chelsea full-back has played for Liverpool, Manchester City, Lyon and Barcelona.
Others in the list include: Labour’s Rachel Reeves, the first female chancellor; Pamela Maynard, Microsoft’s first chief AI transformation officer; Nicola Packer, who was acquitted of having an illegal abortion’; theatre impresario Sonia Friedman; and Princess Anne.
