♀ Feminist Friday ♀
Jayaben Desai
Jayaben Desai, who died aged 77 after a long illness, defied stereotyping all her life. "A person like me, I am never scared of anybody," she told managers at the Grunwick film processing plant in Chapter Road, Willesden, in the north-west London borough of Brent, shortly before she led a walkout on the baking hot day of Monday 23 August 1976. The events that followed contributed immeasurably to increasing the level of respect shown to newly arrived immigrant workers, many of them women – especially by their colleagues in the existing workforce.
Desperate for work, the newly arrived accepted long hours and low wages, though the need to do so, Desai said, "nagged away like a sore on their necks". When she decided she had had enough, the 4ft10in employee told her 6ft manager, Malcom Alden, "What you are running is not a factory, it is a zoo. But in a zoo there are many types of animals. Some are monkeys who dance on your fingertips. Others are lions who can bite your head off. We are those lions, Mr Manager."
As a result of her passion and magical turn of phrase, 100 of her fellow workers joined her on strike. Yet they were not even in a trade union. The local Citizens Advice Bureau gave her son Sunil two phone numbers – that of the Trades Union Congress and mine, as secretary of the Brent Trades Council. The TUC advised them to join the white-collar union Apex, now part of the GMB.
Grunwick was a mail-order film-processing company most of whose trade came from holiday snaps. The decision of postmen at the local sorting office in Cricklewood to black the firm's mail almost won the dispute for the strikers. But at the start of November 1976, the Grunwick boss George Ward, supported by the National Association for Freedom, a pressure group run by the Conservative MP and publicist John Gorst, launched a legal challenge in the high court. The initiative was backed by the opposition leader Margaret Thatcher, who hailed Ward as a champion of freedom. The blacking of the sorting office was called off and defeat stared the dismayed strikers in the face. Nonetheless, they maintained their picket as winter drew on.
"We must not give up," Jayaben told a packed meeting of the strikers, by then 130 strong, in the Brent Trades and Labour Hall. "Would Gandhi give up? Never!" The strike committee, of which I was proud to be a member, took their cause to more than 1,000 workplaces, from engineering factories in Glasgow to the coalmines of south Wales. They brought home to the big battalions of organised labour an understanding of the grim reality facing too many.
Then, on Monday 13 June 1977, the police arrested 84 pickets out of 100 who had come to demonstrate their solidarity on what was called Women's Support Day. The campaigners were angry that the involvement of Acas, the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, had not enabled them to obtain union recognition. Jayaben's nationwide tour encouraged workers from all over Britain, outraged that the strikers had been sacked, to join the picket line outside the factory.
There were 1,300 by the following Friday, and 12,000 by 11 July, the day that 20,000 went on a TUC-organised march to the factory. Once again, the Cricklewood postmen took action, blacking the mail to Grunwick. Colin Maloney, their chairman, observed: "You don't say 'no' to Mrs Desai." The postmen – all white apart from one West Indian – were suspended for three weeks and threatened with dismissal.
The Labour prime minister, James Callaghan, set up a cabinet committee and persuaded the TUC and Apex to allow a court of enquiry under Lord Justice Scarman to resolve the dispute. "No employer has ever defied a court of enquiry," said the TUC general secretary, Len Murray. "You don't understand that we are dealing with a new breed of employer, backed by the emerging Thatcherite right," I told him. "He will defy the court of enquiry," Jayaben said.
She was right. Scarman was in favour of recognition and reinstatement. Ward refused to accept. James Prior, the Tory shadow employment spokesman, was supportive of the workers' case, but to no avail. And, with the movement around the dispute wound down, there were no avenues left to win justice. After a second bitter winter on the picket line, the strikers conceded defeat on 14 July 1978.
Defiant to the end, Jayaben told the final meeting of the strikers that they could be proud. "We have shown," she said, "that workers like us, new to these shores, will never accept being treated without dignity or respect. We have shown that white workers will support us." Only 10 years previously, dockers had marched in support of the Conservative politician Enoch Powell, and workforces had polarised along racial lines at Mansfield Hosiery Mills in Nottinghamshire and Imperial Typewriters in Leicester.
Grunwick had witnessed the biggest mobilisation in British labour-movement history in support of fewer than 200 strikers. Defying all the odds, one courageous woman inspired all who heard her. "Mr Jack," she would often say to me, "my English is not good." Yet she captured in poetic language all that is best in the human spirit.
Cross-examined by Lord Scarman before the court of enquiry, Alden could not explain why the workers that Ward had described as "my ladies" had walked out. Pressed, he then recalled. "All of a sudden, she kind of exploded and said, 'I want my freedom' ...[that] is the phrase that stands out in my mind."
Born in the north-western Indian coastal state of Gujarat, at school Jayaben rejected passive obedience in favour of active support for Indian independence. In 1955, she married Suryakant Desai, a tyre-factory manager from Tanganyika – united with Zanzibar since 1964 as Tanzania – where the couple settled the following year. The east African Asians formed the mercantile and administrative classes, and Jayaben enjoyed a comfortable lifestyle. For the Desais and tens of thousands of others, all that changed with the "Africanisation" policies that saw them expelled and flee to Britain.
When they arrived in Brent, the Desais' social status collapsed. Suryakant took a job as an unskilled labourer and Jayaben as a sewing machinist in a Harlesden sweatshop. Working part-time, she brought up their two children before going to work for Grunwick in 1974.
After the strike, Jayaben's health declined, and she had a gall-bladder operation. A sewing job led to teaching for the Brent Indian Association, and she pioneered an Asian dressmaking course at Harrow College.
Aged 60, she passed her driving test, and found herself, finally, "a free bird", though still in demand to give talks to students. After Suryakant's retirement, the couple travelled to many countries. He survives her, as do their sons Sunil, later Shivkumar, and Rajiv.
"Muddy Hunter Wellies Degradation POV"
Autumn time in England produces the best weather for muddy welly boots. After taking a nice long walk in the English countryside, it is time for a slave to come and service my wellies to keep them clean. Lick and suck the dirt off and feel the gritty mud crunch between your teeth, I will help you swallow it down by spitting over the boots and encouraging you. If you don't, you'll be coming on the next walk with me, and if you think THIS is humiliating, you might want to think again. Eat up.
Apologies for not replying to DMs this week - not ignoring you! Had some issues that have taken me away from my work for the week. Things will resume as normal very very soon! In the mean time, what kind of content would you like me to film next week? Ideas below!
Leather has arrived! If you tipped and contributed to my fundraising post to pay for these you will receive a photo or video to your inbox by tomorrow!
♀ Feminist Friday ♀
Policarpa Salavarrieta
“Indolent people! How diverse your luck would be today if you knew the price of freedom?” These powerful words, translated from Spanish, were passionately uttered during the last moments of Policarpa Salavarrieta’s life, Colombia’s most renowned heroine.
Though Colombian history overwhelmingly credits the patriarchal figures, Simon Bolivar and Francisco de Paula Santander, as the individuals that aided in Colombia’s independence, they received some help throughout their mission. In fact, women were also vital to the decolonization of Colombia from Spain. However, the one that has stood out the most is Policarpa, known as “La Pola.”. There might not be much information about La Pola, but there’s enough to let the world know of her unwavering strength.
It is believed that La Pola was born in 1795. Her father, José Joaquín Salavarrieta and her mother, Mariana Rios de Salavarrieta had eight other children aside from La Pola. Despite their large family dynamic, La Pola’s family was reputable among the village within the city of Gaduas, Colombia. Later on, in their lives, La Pola’s parents decided to leave Gaduas and head towards Bogotá, Colombia to a house La Pola’s father had acquired. However, their living conditions weren’t as favorable to them as they were in Gaduas. Sadly, their stay in Bogotá didn’t lighten up. Around 1802, there had been a smallpox epidemic and it affected many, including many members of La Pola’s family. This smallpox ruthlessly killed both her parents and two of her brothers. After this tragedy, La Pola’s family dissolved. Her salvation from a life without guidance came from her older sister, Catarina. In 1804, she had gotten the resources to be able to move back to Gaduas and live with her godmother, Margarita Beltrán. Thankfully, Catarina took La Pola and her younger brother, Bibiano back to Gaduas with her. Years later, her sister got married to Domingo Garcia and took both her siblings to live with them.
Her surroundings were politically-charged while La Pola was growing up. Catarina’s godmother, Margarita Beltrán, was part of a family that had been active in fighting against the colonizers in 1781, which highlighted their dissatisfaction in being part of a colonized nation. Catarina’s husband, Domingo Garcia, also became involved in patriotic battles during his time. Unfortunately, he lost his life in a battle he fought in a campaign led by Antonio Nariño. Her younger brother, Bibiano, became a veteran of that same campaign. Though his fate wasn’t as tragic as his brother-in-law’s, he did return to Gaduas badly injured after enduring imprisonment by the colonizers. All of these events instilled the importance of patriotic spirit and molded La Pola’s mentality.
Policarpa Salavarrieta or La Pola’s sole purpose in life hadn’t always been to fuel a political rebellion. Instead, she was someone who obtained an education. Even though in those times women weren’t regarded as much, let alone worthy enough of an education, her family allowed her to learn how to be literate. It is said that La Pola was even allowed to teach in public schools. She was also trained as a seamstress, a career that became of great use to her in the future.
La Pola’s political endeavours started in Gaduas. However, she quickly had to flee alongside her brother, Bibiano, to the capital once their rebellious attitudes were noticed. Since they had a letter signed by two patriotic guerilla leaders, Ambrosio Almeyda and José Rodríguez, they were able to enter the capital easily.
Since La Pola wasn’t recognized by the locals in Santa Fe, she had the liberty to roam freely. This allowed her to become part of the patriotic groups of the capital and join their chapters. It was then, where her patriotism was taken even more seriously and she was given instructions on how to develop her beliefs for the advancement of Colombia. After learning that La Pola was a seamstress, some of the leaders of the patriotic movement advised her to become the official seamstress for the Spanish royals. By doing this, she could infiltrate their space and obtain valuable information for them, such as their next moves, the numbers of soldiers, and learn about the weapons they were using. Of course, La Pola didn’t proceed into this task by herself. She had the help of her compatriots. She especially had the help of Alejo Sabarain. It is said that Sabarain was her boyfriend or lover, but it has never been confirmed. Regardless, he was a significant part of La Pola’s patriotic cause.
La Pola’s spying would have remained undetected had Almeyda not gotten caught. When he was caught, he was carrying documents that were linked to La Pola’s information, thus incriminating her as well. Everything went downhill from there.
Once everyone found out that Almeyda had gotten caught, everyone involved rushed to their escape. This included Sabarain’s escape. However, he too was caught before he could get far. At this point La Pola wasn’t a priority, but Sabarain was carrying a paper with a list provided by La Pola when he was caught. This gave the Spaniards enough reason to go to her immediately after Sabarain’s arrest.
On November 10th, 1817, La Pola was sentenced to death by shooting. She didn’t last too long being in prison. Shortly after, on November 14th, she was arranged to be executed.
La Pola was escorted by two priests to the destination of her final moments. As she walked towards her death trap, she was urged to ask for forgiveness by the priests. But she declined their advisement. Instead, she cursed the oppression caused by the Spanish regime.
Once she arrived to where she was sentenced to be executed, the executioner told her that she had to take the bullet to her back. This was due to the fact that she had betrayed the Spanish control. Knowing that there was not much to do that at that point, she dropped her clothing a bit and exposed her bare back. She told them her only condition was to kneel down, which they allowed her to do. According to the La Pola, kneeling down was the proper way to go, especially since she was a woman.
Before the shotgun’s freed the bullet designated to unjustly rob her of life, she let the crowd know that her actions were merely political. Some of her words still ring the nation of Colombia and inspires still inspires Colombians to this day:
“Although I am a woman and youn g, I have more than enough courage to suffer this death and a thousand more!”
Colombia’s journey to independence from Spain was a treacherous one. As with any situation involving colonization, injustices were a plenty. The Spaniards, robbed Colombia of their treasures, raped their women, and allowed the streets to be splashed with the native’s crimson-tinted despair. It is thanks to the brave women like Policarpa Salavarrieta that Colombia is no longer colonized. After her death, she ignited the fire in many to go after their independence, regardless of the repercussions. It goes to show the world that freedom is always worth fighting for, despite the heartache it may cause along the way.
♀ Feminist Friday ♀
Empress Wu
Empress Wu before she became Empress, was called Wu Zetian and was born in 624 CE. Empress Wu was born from a prosperous and wealthy family, her father was Wu Shihuo, who became a chancellor during the early Tang Dynasty. Her father married her mother Lady Yang who came from the powerful Yang family. At a y oung age, Empress Wu was well educated and knew music, history, and politics, and could write poetry, and calligraphy. This was unusual for girl her age at the time, because most girls were not as well educated as she was. Wu Zetian was very beautiful and at the age of 14 she became Emperor Taizong’s concubine, which during that time was like winning a beauty contest. Wu Zetian was one of the 9 concubines Emperor Taizong had, and was the 5th rank compared to the others. Although Wu Zetian wasn’t the emperor’s favorite concubine, she was so beautiful that one time when Emperor Taizong got mad at her, he couldn’t kill her because she was too beautiful to die. Emperor Taizong did however enjoy Wu Zetian’s company and she would regularly go places with him as his servant. During the summer of 649 Emperor Taizong became seriously ill from pills that were given to him by alchemist, and he soon after died. Once Emperor Taizong died, Wu Zetian, like the other concubines was required to be sent to a Buddhist convent, until she was brought back to the palace to be Emperor Gaozong’s concubine who was Emperor Taizong’s son. During this time, there was much controversy that surrounded around Emperor Gaozong and Wu Zetian, because many people believed that even before Emperor Taizong’s death, Wu was having an affair with Emperor Gaozong. Emperor Gaozong was smitten with Wu, and soon she became his top concubine, but then later she became his Empress due to Wu telling Taizong that the Empress killed their baby girl. Although Wu blamed the current Empress, many believe that this was a lie and instead Wu killed her baby girl to blame it on the current Empress, but there is no true way of knowing is this is fact or fiction.
Emperor Gaozong died in December 683 from a series of previous strokes he developed later in his life. During the time that he was still alive, but sick, Empress Wu began to gain authority over him and make important decisions in the last 23 years of his life. One example of Empress Wu’s power was during 666 C.E. when she lead a bunch of women to Mount Tai and instead of having men conduct rituals, she had the women conduct rituals in the ceremonial center of Mount Tai. Empress Wu believed that women were just as equal as men because that’s an important value that her father taught her earlier in her life, and so because of that she formed her own Secret Police and has personal spies incase opposition rose from people who believed the traditional view that women weren’t allowed to take the thrown. At times Empress Wu had to fire officials or had others executed who were believed to be plotting against her, she even had to be wary of his own family members from plotting against her. Empress Wu moved away from Confucianism because of the negative views the religion had against women’s positions, and instead favored Buddhism because she could use the scripture to justify her rule as an Empress. Because Buddhism because more important than Confucianism during the Tang dynasty, many literary arts, and visual arts became engulfed with Buddhism elements instead of Confucianism. Wu also had many stone caves and temples. Another thing that Empress Wu spent most of her time does was focusing on education, and she got rid undedicated teacher and replaced with dedicated teachers. Empress Wu cared a lot about common/ and poor people and she lowered taxes for the peasants so that they could be able to live more freely and happier. Another thing she did to help low class people gain a higher position, was fixing the way the government recruited people, which allowed low-class people to become high-class officials. One of the more influential things Empress Wu did in her Reign was improve agriculture by instituting reforms, and promoting research to agriculture to make the economy of her empire flourish. Empress Wu also decided to get rid of part of the military, because she felt it wasn’t beneficial to her empire, which helped bring in more money to the economy of the Tang dynasty. But even though she got rid of part of the military, this did not make the Tang dynasty’s military weaker, the Tang dynasty was arguably one of the strongest military dynasties and was able to expand and gain more land. One example of this is when Tang’s military reached to the north Mongolian Plateau.
During Empress Wu’s later years, she started to suffer from paranoia and feared that people were trying to deceive her, so she started banishing and executing many people she suspected to be plotting against her. The officials in the court couldn’t tolerated Empress Wu’s paranoia any longer and she was made to give up her throne in favor to her son Zhongzong. A year later, Empress Wu died due to her poor health from the stress of her paranoia. Empress Wu made a long-lasting legacy, and was one of the most important figures in China. Not only did Empress Wu break the tradition of having a male emperor, she also influenced many women after her to try and take the throne themselves or move up the political latter. She expanded the recruitment system by fixing the way the government recruited people, so instead of people being chosen by hereditary status, now people who were lower class had the opportunity to become high ranking officials. Empress Wu also focused a lot of her reign on increasing agriculture which was successful for the most part, and helping the poor because she didn’t look down on them like previous emperors had. During Empress Wu’s reign, she was able to increase faming households from 3 million to a double 6 million, which showed that her agriculture policies had been very effective. Even though she was so successful, many people dispute her legacy due to claims by people during her time that portrayed her as evil, mean, and a cruel empress. The reason for these claims was because her son left her tomb blank, and jerks wrote hateful things on her tomb about her. These writings were purely sexist because she was the first (and only) women in china to become a powerful empress, which to many was unacceptable during that time. Also, another reason for why people wrote so badly about Empress Wu, was the fact that Confucianism was very strong in the beginning of her reign, and traditionally Confucianism didn’t support women holding powerful positions.
♀ Feminist Friday ♀
Tarabai Shinde
Tarabai Shinde, born in the Berar province of Buldhana, was a women’s right’s activist who protested patriarchy. Her first published work, Stri Purush Tulana, which translates to, A Comparison between Women and Men is considered to be one the country’s first modern feminist text. Her defiance of inherent patriarchy in Hindu scriptures are views that remain controversial even today.
Tarabai was born in 1850, a period when the British Raj was at its peak and the quality of life for women in the country had become worse. Tarabai’s father was Bapuji Hari Shinde, a head clerk in the office of Deputy Commissioner of Revenues. He was a radical thinker himself who had a book published – Hint to the educated natives. A qualified academic with Tarabai as his only daughter, Bapuji honed her linguistic skills by teaching her languages such as Marathi, Sanskrit, and English. Due to societal norms at the time she became a child-bride.
When a widow aborted her unborn chil d, a criminal case was filed against her and she was sentenced to death. Tarabai decided to speak up against this act through her writings. This was the inception of India’s first modern feminist text, Stri Purush Tulana.500 copies of the book were printed in 1882 and the text was a commentary piece on the “behavior” of women as prescribed by religious text. The reception for the book from contemporary society was hostile and it remained undiscovered until its re-publication by S.G Malshe in 1975.
This was the inception of India’s first modern feminist text, Stri Purush Tulana.500 copies of the book were printed in 1882 and the text was a commentary piece on the "behavior" of women as prescribed by religious text. The reception for the book from contemporary society was hostile and it remained undiscovered until its re-publication by S.G Malshe in 1975.
Tarabai had begun working with social activists, Savitribai Phule and Jyotirao Phule, and was a member of the Satyashodak Samaj, or the Truth Seeker’s Society. In 1885, Jyotirao Phule wrote in defense of Tarabai’s Stri Purush Tulana in Satyashodak Samaj’s second issue of its magazine, Satsaar.
Until her death in 1910, Tarabai Shinde remained a voice against patriarchy and ill treatment of women. Her feminist text still remains a pamphlet of reference of many present-day women’s rights activists.
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