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Event, Politics, Women's History

The Cry of Lost Aboriginal Sisters Across Canada

•The Indian Act of 1876 was intended to assimilate indigenous peoples. It denied self-government and segregated those subject to its provisions on apartheid style reserves. Patriarchal societies were intended to replace matriarchal ones. The 1884 Indian Advancement Act included Inuit communities, requiring their members to carry a tattoo on their necks.

Event, General, Politics, Source, Women's History

International Alliance of Women (IAW) … Herstory in the Making: Pt 2

The Congress was held in the main hall and environs, surrounded by portraits of ‘very important men’ – judges, barristers, queen’s and king’s counsel … As these portraited men looked down upon the women gathered beneath then, voicing uproar and outrage at the ravages wrought by warring in Syria, denial of rights to children born but not formally registered so running the risk of being ‘seen’ as non-existent, the oppression, damage and destruction lying at the base of child marriage, the importantce of ecological balance and taking action to undo the damage of climate change … what would these men have thought?

Event, Politics, Source, Women's History

International Alliance of Women (IAW) … Herstory in the Making: Pt 1

As these portraited men looked down upon the women gathered beneath then, voicing uproar and outrage at the ravages wrought by warring in Syria, denial of rights to children born but not formally registered so running the risk of being ‘seen’ as non-existent, the oppression, damage and destruction lying at the base of child marriage, the importantce of ecological balance and taking action to undo the damage of climate change … what would these men have thought? Would it ever have entered their comprehension, when they lived, that one day these hallowed halls would be filled with the sound of women’s feet and laughter, that the walls would be assailed by women’s voices, women’s support for one another and for changing the world? Would they ever have thought that resolutions would be passed by women – articulate, angry, compassionate, forthright, brave, courageous, indomitable?

Book Prize

Winner Book Prize 2013

The winner of this year’s competition is Angela Davis’s Modern Motherhood: Women and Family in England, 1945-2000 (Manchester University Press, 2012).  Congratulations to Angela for a book that the judges commend as ‘a fascinating survey of women’s experience of motherhood’, ’eminently readable’, ‘a solid and…

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General, Politics, Women's History

The History of Hemlines

After the Wall Street Crash of 1929, the Great Depression brought hemlines crashing back down to the floor with its grim psychological effect on the public. The lack of money and merriment meant the debauchery and risk taking of the ‘20s disappeared and was replaced by a return to a level of modesty – both economically and fashionably. The 1930s also saw the dawn of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Whilst many other businesses collapsed, the film industry grew in popularity. Films offered a temporary escape from the harshness of reality. Hollywood made stars out of women such as Great Garbo, Jean Harlow and Bette Davis.

Event, General, Politics, Source

(Some) Women’s History OnLine …

… there can be little doubt that at this time, despite not infrequent denials of ‘knowledge’ the world was well aware of the genocidal ideology and practices upon which Adolf Hitler’s regime was founded:

‘Still going on as pitilessly as brutally as it did five years ago is Goebbels’ persecution of the Jews. Signposts at city limits bear the legend, “Jews not wanted, Jews keep out.” Even in parks, if Jews are allowed at all, special yellow benches are set apart, labelled, “For Jews.”’

Hitler’s ‘Mein Kampf’ is quoted: ‘All propaganda must be confined to a few slogans … repeated over and over … until the last man [sic] understands what they mean.’

Event, Women's History

Port Women’s History

So many presentations included women as subjects, were presented by women, were gender aware, and brought comments from women that it felt like the most gender-inclusive conference on maritime history that I’ve attended since the world’s first (and, still, only) conference on Women and the Sea in Wellington, NZ in 1992.

It’s also the first time I’ve ever seen more women than men at a maritime history-related conference (28 women, 25 men). In maritime history conference until a decade ago the presence of another woman was often so unusual that we would rush up to introduce ourselves;‘A sister in the field, at last!’