Spending my formative years in Lagos, I was hugely influenced by SRN’s so while working as a journalist I approached the Editor of West Africa Magazine to suggest that as it was the 100th Anniversary of the International Council of Nurses…
Category: Blog
The Women’s History Network blog
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.
(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.’
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!’
‘… if you are silent now.’ In the Struggle for Peace, Not War
On Anzac Day, we forget to tally the lives saved by women by their courage and their votes in opposition to war demands – to forcing boys and shaming men to be soldiers. And we forget that armed force has, since the 1914-18 war, been made the priority of Australia’s defence and security, and that that maintains a strong prejudice against the rationality of prioritising human rather than military security.
Life At Home During The Great War
The Great War was not the end of everything. Cultural entertainment continued, although tinged with a patriotic influence. Literary works and poetry, theatre, music and motion pictures adopted a militant vision of society. Schools, the press and popular literature drew heavily on anti-foreign and patriotic sentiments, making it easy to demonise the German enemy. Military music and anthems were played on the radio and there were musical performances held for large audiences.
After the Vote – Post 1928 Women
Introduction It is commonly asserted that women retired into their homes after the vote was won. This is nonsense. Around the world, whenever the vote was won by women, women continued to agitate, demonstrate, demand and declare that women’s rights…
Living Memories – Ellen Malos’ Archive, Bristol
A key figure in the Bristol Women’s Liberation Movement, Ellen Malos and her work were recognised by Bristol University in 2006, with the award of an Honorary Doctorate. Then, on 12 June 2007 the Next Link Women’s Safe…
Jessie Kenney and women seafarers
Jessie battled on but to no avail. ‘These gentlemen … had dark and impenetrable notions on the subject.’ Instead she ‘decided to go to sea as a stewardess in the hopes that later I may be allowed to practice as a wireless operator.’
(Victoria Drummond had similarly been advised to give up and become a stewardess, but refused.)
By autumn 1926, Jessie was working on the Otranto – as a stewardess. She sailed for ten years with Furness and Orient line, and kept her dream fed by reading science and philosophy books when she could, as the lists in her diaries show.
But ‘How often I looked up at the wireless cabin … afterwards. How I had longed for the peace and solitude of the wireless cabin where after my labours I could study in peace.’ She wasn’t even accepted in WW2.