Secondary school pupils in the UK are being taught that Joan of Arc may have been non-binary, according to lesson plans designed for English Language students aged between 11 and 14. The claim appears in the Who We Are anthology, published by Collins, which includes contemporary texts aimed at being representative and inclusive. The lesson plan in question explores the biography of a drag queen and includes a section suggesting that Joan of Arc (1412–31) is considered by some to have been non-binary.
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Historically, Joan of Arc cut her hair short and wore male attire, which was one of the charges of heresy that led to her execution in 1431. However, there is no evidence that she rejected her female identity or identified as non-binary—a concept that only emerged in the late 20th century. Professor Robert Tombs, emeritus professor of French history at the University of Cambridge, criticised the claim, stating: “Joan of Arc fought as a woman and died as a woman. To call her something else is insulting to her and indirectly to all women who are brave enough to risk their lives for their beliefs.”
Carolyn Brown, a retired psychologist now associated with the Women’s Rights Network, echoed this sentiment, describing it as “yet another ridiculous example of attempting to rewrite history.” She argued that non-conforming women should not be erased from historical narratives and referred to non-binary identity as “a nonsense term.” Brown also warned of the psychological impact on children, stating that promoting such ideas could lead to confusion and anxiety. This is not the first time Joan of Arc has been portrayed in this way; in 2022, the Globe Theatre’s play I, Joan depicted her with they/them pronouns instead of she/her.
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The claim is part of a broader effort within the curriculum to provide historical and cultural context for LGBTQ+ identities. The lesson plan suggests discussing references to non-binary people in ancient Mesopotamia, the legally recognised hijra gender in South Asia, and the suggestion that Joan of Arc might be viewed through a non-binary lens. However, some teachers have expressed frustration, arguing that such content detracts from the study of literary classics and prioritises ideology over traditional academic subjects. One teacher remarked that the lesson plan “makes an absolute mockery of the profession” and suggested that contemporary identity-focused material is being promoted at the expense of established literature such as To Kill a Mockingbird and Of Mice and Men.
