Why did the Brontes sisters use male pen names?

Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë published works under male pseudonyms. They did this to increase the chances that their work would be taken seriously, as the Victorian literary world was largely male-dominated and often dismissive of female writers. By adopting male pen names, the Brontë sisters were able to overcome some of the prejudice that female authors faced and gain a wider audience for their writing. Charlotte used the pen name Currer Bell, Emily used Ellis Bell, and Anne used Acton Bell.