The title is inspired by Helen Pugh's book series title "Intrepid Dudettes of the Inca Empire".
Core Mission & Philosophy
The Intrepid Herstory Collective is a community dedicated to the work of author Helen G. Pugh, centering around the philosophy that "herstory" must be intentionally taught alongside "history." We are a platform for exploring worldwide narratives of female resilience, cultural history, and social justice, focusing on women who were historically "edited out" of traditional textbooks.
The collective unites readers interested in two seemingly disparate but thematically linked areas of Pugh's research: the powerful, often overlooked women of the Inca and Amazonian empires, and the pioneering activists and unsung figures from British local history, including the women's suffrage movement.
Pillar 1: The Andean & Amazonian Focus (Worldwide Herstory) 🌄
This pillar delves into Helen Pugh’s work on South American history, informed by her extensive residence in Ecuador and her personal drive to give her half-Ecuadorian children access to their heritage. This area champions the depth and complexity of pre-Columbian female power.
- Reclaiming Inca Power: Discussions focus on the non-fiction and historical narratives in works like Intrepid Dudettes of the Inca Empire. Topics include:
- Divine Feminine: Analyzing the mythology and enduring cultural importance of goddesses like Pachamama (Mother Nature) and other female deities.
- Political Agency: Exploring the actual, documented political and economic power wielded by Inca queens, curacas (female caciques), and noblewomen before and during the Spanish Conquest.
- Survival and Trauma: Examining the personal and historical accounts of Inca women facing conflict, legal battles, and domestic challenges, and drawing lessons on resilience.
Inca-tastic Tales. An epic journey through Inca-tastic history!
- Jungle-tastic Explorations: Dedicated space for her work on Amazonian history and culture, focusing on the blend of mythology, nature, and history found in the Jungle-tastic Tales series.
Pillar 2: The British Focus (Local & Systemic Herstory) 🗳️
This pillar champions the critical role of women in British social history, expanding the notion of who counts as a historical figure beyond elite figures.
- Suffrage and Social Change: This is a key thematic link to the agency seen in Inca women. We examine the stories of women in Somerset, England, as documented in works like Unsung Women in Somerset and On This Day in Somerset: A Calendar of Women [due out on 3rd November 2025].
- Votes and Voters: Highlighting the individual acts of defiance, such as the story of the suffragette who defied the law to cast a vote before it was legally sanctioned.
- Everyday Heroes: Celebrating the diverse contributions of local women across centuries—from medieval abbesses and wartime spies to contemporary humanitarian workers and artists—demonstrating that history is made by people from all walks of life.
- Bridging the Divide: Discussions on how the challenges of gaining political voice in Britain (suffrage) parallel the challenges of Inca women trying to maintain their status and agency against a dominant, external force (the conquest).
Pillar 3: Children's Literature and Educational Ethics 📚
This pillar focuses on the pedagogical strength of Pugh's writing, emphasizing that her books are not just entertaining but are well-researched, ethical, and culturally responsible tools for learning.
- Accessible History: Focusing on how works like Inca-tastic Tales use captivating storytelling (gods, goddesses, adventure) to deliver complex, meticulously researched historical facts to children (aged 8 and up).
- Encouraging Curiosity: Creating and sharing educational resources, reading guides, and discussion prompts to foster a lifelong passion for history and critical thinking in young readers.
- Citizenship: Using the contrast between Inca and Somerset women to teach children and adults about diverse cultural concepts of power, female roles, and the universal experience of human struggle and triumph.
Pillar 4: Intellectual Agency & STEM/STEAM Pioneers (The Mind's Herstory) 🧠💻
This pillar expands the Collective's focus to include women whose historical significance lies in their pioneering intellectual achievements, particularly in science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics, and technology. It reinforces the idea that female agency is not just political or social, but fundamentally rooted in the power of the mind.
Unlocking the Secret of STEM: This area champions the stories of women who defied social norms to establish legacies in fields traditionally dominated by men. The central figure for this theme is:
- Ada Lovelace (1815-1852): Explored as the world’s first computer programmer. Her story is crucial because it connects 19th-century intellectual drive to the modern digital age, highlighting the long, often-overlooked history of women in computing and the creative potential of mathematics.
- Thematic Connection: The focus on Lovelace bridges the physical world of the Somerset suffragettes and the industrial workers of Budapest with the abstract, future-shaping realm of intellectual discovery. It demonstrates that the fight for agency includes the fight for equal access to knowledge and academic recognition.
Why This Matters: The Intrepid Herstory Collective uses these stories to promote STEM/STEAM education and challenge historical narratives that have minimized women's contributions to science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics.
Community Values
The Collective is founded on the principles of curiosity, respect for diverse histories, anti-marginalization, and the belief that meticulous research can be packaged in accessible and engaging ways for all ages. We encourage the sharing of personal connections to "herstory," whether through family narratives or local historical discoveries.
