A History of Women in Men's Clothes: From Cross-Dressing to Empowerment

by Norena Shopland

Overview

Traditionally, historic women have been seen as bound by social conventions, unable to travel unless accompanied and limited in their ability to do what they want when they want. But thousands of women broke those rules, put on banned clothing and traveled, worked and even lived whole lives as men. As access to novels and newspapers increased in the nineteenth century so did the number of women defying Biblical and social restrictions. They copied each other’s motives and excuses and moved into the world of men. Most were working-class women who either needed to or wanted to, break away from constricted lives; women who wanted to watch a hanging or visit a museum, to see family or escape domestic abuse, some wanted to earn a decent living when women’s wages could not keep a family. The reasons were myriad. Some were quickly arrested and put on display in court, hoping to deter other women from such shameful behavior, but many more got away with it.

For the first time, A History of Women in Men’s Clothes looks at those thousands of individuals who broke conventions in the only way they could, by disguising themselves either for a brief moment or a whole life.

Daring and bold, this is the story of the women who defied social convention to live their lives as they chose, from simply wanting more independence to move and live freely, to transgender and homosexual women cross-dressing to express themselves, this is women’s fight to wear trousers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781526787682
Publisher:	Pen & Sword Books Limited
Publication date:	07/08/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	216
File size:	16 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

Table of Contents

Introduction vi

Chapter 1 To See Lovely Things 1

Chapter 2 Individuals Not Distinguished 12

Chapter 3 It Was Just a Lark 23

Chapter 4 Family Life 34

Chapter 5 For Love, or Hate 45

Chapter 6 A Nymph of the Pave 54

Chapter 7 Usurping His Occupation 67

Chapter 8 Hard Labour 78

Chapter 9 For Nefarious Purposes 89

Chapter 10 Soldiers 100

Chapter 11 Sailors 110

Chapter 12 A Pair of Pretty Legs 121

Chapter 13 Explosed to Ridicule and Insult 135

Chapter 14 A Skirt for Each Leg 146

Chapter 15 Loving Women 158

Chapter 16 Questioning Gender 170

Conclusion 181

Notes 184

Bibliography 200

Index 202