Sphere acquires activism book by upskirting campaigner Gina Martin

Sphere has acquired a book on activism by Gina Martin, the campaigner who successfully pushed for upskirting to be made illegal.

Editorial director Hannah Boursnell acquired world rights from Abigail Bergstrom and Megan Staunton at Gleam Titles. Sphere will publish Be The Change: A Toolkit For Activism in June 2019.

Martin led a campaign to have upskirting made illegal in England and Wales after police declined to prosecute a man who took photographs up her skirt at a music festival. The law was approved by the House of Lords in January.

Her book is described as “your handbook, your road map and your toolkit for pushing for change at absolutely any level”. Martin wrote: “From using social media to gain support and to getting pro bono legal support, to regaining your confidence after a perceived ‘failure’ (hint: there is no such thing), I wrote this book to make sure you believe in your voice, feel ready to put yourself out there and know how to start making things happen. Because my god, if I can do it, so can you.”

Martin writes for publications including Grazia, Glamour, the Telegraph and Refinery29 on women's rights, sustainability and lifestyle. She was named “one to watch for 2018” by Cosmopolitan and became one of Porter's Incredible Women of the Year 2018.

Boursnell said: “It is easy in these troubled times to believe that we are powerless, but Gina is proof that change is possible. She is a genuine force for good in a world on fire, and spending time with her really does make you feel like you can take on anything. With her brilliant book in your hand, you’ll certainly be able to. We are so enormously proud to be publishing Be The Change at Sphere and can’t wait to share it with the world.”