Anne Boleyn was a feminist icon: Lessons for women in 2026

Something I haven’t shared much here is that I’m an absolute nerd for anything to do with the Tudors. Not just the drama or intrigue, but the figures themselves (the women in particular). And if there’s one historical figure who has always fascinated me, it’s Anne Boleyn.

She isn’t just a historical curiosity. To me, Annie B is a feminist icon whose life speaks to women today about courage, ambition, and refusing to shrink to fit someone else’s expectations.

Looking beyond the gossip

For centuries, Anne Boleyn has been subjected to gossip, lies, and propaganda. History often frames her as manipulative, scheming, or flirtatious. The “temptress” who brought down a king. But if you dig beneath the surface, the picture changes dramatically.

Anne wasn’t a passive player in her own story. She was clever, politically astute, and strategically independent in ways that threatened powerful men. She championed education for girls, promoting a level of learning that was considered inappropriate for women at the time. She supported scholars and theologians whose ideas challenged the established religious order, encouraged the translation of important texts into English, and used her influence to push for reforms at court. Highly controversial!

Her intellect and ambition were not crimes, but at a time that demanded silence and obedience from women, they were dangerous.

She refused to play the quiet, submissive role expected of women at court. She spoke her mind, asked questions, and demanded more from life than what was considered acceptable for her gender.

It’s a story that resonates with women today who struggle with societal pressure to be ‘nice,’ ‘accommodating,’ or generally small in their ambitions.

Anne Boleyn’s intelligence and independence

Anne Boleyn’s intelligence was undeniable. After spending many of her teenage years in France, she was highly educated, fluent in multiple languages, and politically savvy. She influenced religious reform, championed new ideas, and navigated the treacherous waters of court politics with a remarkable skill that wasn’t seen in most women of her time.

Her independence was also impressive. She resisted Henry VIII’s advances for years and refused to marry him until she had some control over the terms of their relationship. She understood her own value and refused to settle for a role she didn’t choose.

Beyond her personal ambition, Anne actively worked to shift the culture around women’s education and intellectual engagement. By encouraging girls to learn and supporting the circulation of reformist ideas, she was creating ripples that challenged centuries of gendered limitations, long before it was safe for women to do so.

This kind of assertiveness was revolutionary for a woman in the 16th century. Sometimes, it still feels radical even today. Many women in modern relationships are socialised to prioritise others’ comfort, desires and expectations over their own. Anne Boleyn refused to accept a life designed by someone else. That was a problem for the men around her.

And that’s why Anne was considered dangerous

Anne’s execution was not the result of her failing to produce a male heir, nor was it punishment for flirtation, adultery (don’t get me started on THAT one…) or ambition alone. She became dangerous because she refused to conform.

She challenged authority, spoke her mind, and defied the rigid gender norms of her time. By wanting more and through taking up space that Tudor society tried to deny her, she threatened the men in power.

Her story reminds us that women who assert themselves are often punished, not for doing anything wrong, but for existing fully, honestly, and without compromise.

Lessons from Anne Boleyn for women today

History has always been harsher on women who step outside prescribed roles. Anne Boleyn’s life is a stark reminder that ambition, curiosity, and independence are powerful qualities, but they’re not always without risk.

Her life is also a reminder to reflect on the ways women today are still encouraged to shrink:

• Being assertive at work or in relationships can trigger criticism, branding women as “bossy” or “difficult.”

• Seeking knowledge, leadership or influence is often met with resistance or subtle punishment.

• Speaking openly about needs, desires, and boundaries is sometimes interpreted as selfishness.

Anne Boleyn shows us that these challenges are not new. They are part of a long history of women being told to stay small…

And choosing not to stay small is, in itself, revolutionary.

Reclaiming your space

Anne Boleyn’s life also gives us a psychological lesson.

Many women internalise these social pressures and end up silencing themselves, downplaying achievements or softening their needs to avoid conflict.

In therapy, I often work with women who recognise these patterns in themselves. They are capable, intelligent, ambitious, and high-achieving. Yet they notice that in certain contexts (especially in close relationships) they disappear a little.

They doubt themselves, soften their boundaries or prioritise others at the expense of their own identity.

Anne Boleyn’s story reminds us that wanting more, speaking up, and taking up space are still acts of courage, even in 2026.

They are signals that you are challenging the limitations placed upon you, just as she did centuries ago.

How ambition is still policed in women

The ways in which society punishes women for wanting more may look different today, but the effect is similar. Women are:

• Told to be modest about achievements, as though self-confidence is arrogance.

• Branded as “demanding” when advocating for themselves.

• Criticised for wanting both professional success and personal fulfilment.

• Socialised to prioritise others’ feelings over their own instincts or desires.

Anne’s life is a mirror here.

She wanted more from life, refused to fit into the roles created for her, and was given the ultimate punishment for it.

Modern women who experience pushback for similar behaviours are simply encountering a continuation of the same social patterns.

Finding inspiration in Anne Boleyn

What makes our Anne so compelling is not just her defiance, but also her strategy.

She was not reckless, she was incredibly deliberate. She chose her battles, understood the stakes, and maintained agency and independence wherever she could.

For women today, this is a valuable lesson: independence and ambition can coexist with strategic awareness. You can want more from life without abandoning your safety, wellbeing, or personal values.

Anne’s courage is a guide, not a blueprint, reminding us that it’s possible to challenge limits and claim space even when it’s risky.

Final thoughts

Anne Boleyn’s story has endured not just because of her tragic end, but because of the power she wielded in life. She dared to speak, think, and act in ways denied to women for centuries.

Her life challenges the narrative that women must shrink, stay quiet, or compromise their ambition. It reminds us that wanting more is not a wrong, being assertive is not selfish, and taking up space is not dangerous (except to those invested in keeping women small).

Anne Boleyn’s story is a timeless lesson in courage, ambition, and the power of refusing to be silent. If you’ve ever felt like “too much” for wanting more from life, perhaps you’re simply upsetting the right people.