The New Woman:
While on my jolly way to the office, posters of a girl riding a bike were plastered across town. These silly ads never work. The various flyers in London typically don’t catch my eye but this one intrigued me. It advertised the latest cycling trousers and without a second thought I removed it from the stand and brought it with me. These trousers have been the latest craze of my women’s book club. Last week, Lottie showcased her newest pants and told us how superb they were for cycling. Apparently all of the husbands hate them and call them “unladylike” … whatever that means. I’ve been considering cycling to work to make my journey just a wee bit easier but all I own are various skirts and dresses. I’m looking forward to purchasing the trousers, I’m exhausted from being expected to be so feminine all the time with my hair done and lipsticks and modest dresses. The bloomers are truly peculiar for my taste but I’m looking forward to switching things up! The B&M Cloths are said to be long-lasting and they even come in many colors. Quite fashionable if you ask me! When I first heard of this trend of cycling bloomers, I paid it no mind but in her latest speech, Susan B. Anthony said that the bicycle has done more to emancipate women than anything else. Anthony is one of my biggest inspirations, as I've always looked up to her work in the field of progressing rights of women even as an American pioneer. Maybe this silly ad did work…
Editorial Commentary:
In the midst of my readings, this woman provides insight on when she stumbled upon the “cycling trousers” fad that was quite popular in Britain from the late 1800s to the mid 1900s. In most modern households, women were expected to stay home to tend to their families and typically didn’t have much of a social life. The introduction of the bicycle allowed women to act as a part of the society especially when it came to business and politics (World Bicycle Relief). Many women were becoming self reliant for the first time in their lives. These trending cycling trousers were quite popularized as well considering how difficult it’d be participating in any strenuous physical activity in a long skirt or tight corset. Unfortunately, society failed to respond positively to the transforming fashion norms. Female cyclists were criticized by not only men but also women who believed in more traditional lifestyles for being immodest and masculine (Dr. Charlotte James). Despite this condemnation, this group of women continued to challenge gender norms by creating new ideas of how women are “expected” to act or look. Additionally the inclusion of leading feminist and abolitionist, Susan B. Anthony’s, famed quote “Let me tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world.” continues this idea of cycling aiding women’s rights. Anthony was a women’s suffragist, as she worked to advance the rights of women as well as slaves in America, however people from all over looked up to her work in these areas (Nancy Hayward). With some influence from public figures and new fashion trends, one could say that these women cycled their way to freedom.
Citations:
“Rational Dress and the New Woman.” Warwick.ac.uk, warwick.ac.uk/services/library/mrc/archives_online/exhibitions/newwoman/rational/.
Ostroff, Hannah S. “How the 19th-Century Bicycle Craze Empowered Women and Changed Fashion.” Smithsonian Institution, 17 May 2018, www.si.edu/stories/19th-century-bicycle-craze.
Hayward, Nancy. “Susan B. Anthony.” National Women’s History Museum, Nancy Hayward, 2018, www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/susan-b-anthony.&…;
“British Library.” Www.bl.uk, www.bl.uk/womens-rights/articles/the-ride-for-independence-victorian-la…;
“Pedaling the Path to Freedom.” National Women’s History Museum, 27 June 2017, www.womenshistory.org/articles/pedaling-path-freedom.