Beyond the rebel girl : women and the industrial workers of the world in the Pacific Northwest, 1905-1924 / Heather Mayer.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Mayer, Heather, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Industrial Workers of the World--History--20th century.

Industrial Workers of the World.

Women--Northwest, Pacific--History--20th century.

Women.

Women--Political activity--Northwest, Pacific--History--20th century.

Women--Political activity.

History.

Pacific Northwest.

Genre:

History.

Physical Description:

204 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Corvallis : Oregon State University Press, 2018.

Summary:

"More than a century after their founding in 1905, the Industrial Workers of the World--or Wobblies as they are commonly known--remain a popular subject for study and discussion among students of labor history and social justice. They are often portrayed as lovable underdogs, with their songs and cartoons, generally irreverent attitude, and stalwart courage in the face of systemic persecution from vigilantes, law enforcement, and government officials. In Beyond the Rebel Girl, historian Heather Mayer questions the well-worn vision of Wobblies as young, single, male, itinerant workers. While such workers formed a large portion of the membership, they weren't the whole picture. In small towns across the Northwest, and in the larger cities of Seattle, Portland, and Spokane, women played an integral role in Wobbly life. Single women, but also families--husband and wife Wobbly teams--played important roles in some of the biggest fights for justice. IWW halls in these Northwest cities often functioned as community centers, with family-friendly events and entertainment. Women were drawn to the IWW for its radical vision, inclusionary policies, birth control advocacy, and emphasis on freedom of choice in marriage. The IWW also offered women an avenue for activism that wasn't focused primarily on the fight for suffrage. Beyond the Rebel Girl deepens our understanding of how the IWW functioned and how the union supported women in their fight for birth control, sexual emancipation, and better labor conditions, all while facing persecution at the local, state, and federal levels"-- Provided by publisher.

"A history of Pacific Northwest women's roles in the Industrial Workers of the World organization between 1905 and 1924"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Why the Pacific Northwest?

Chapter 2 Spokane 1909 p. 25

The Free Speech Fight

Chapter 3 Seattle 1912 p. 51

Becky Beck and the Seattle Tailors' Strike

Chapter 4 Portland 1913 p. 63

The Oregon Packing Company Strike and the Case of Lilian Larkin

Chapter 5 Everett 1916 p. 89

The Everett Massacre and the Tracy Trial

Chapter 6 World War I and Its Aftermath, 1917-1920 p. 109

Repression, Arrests, and Defense Work of Female Wobblies

Chapter 7 Seattle 1917-1920 p. 125

Anarchism, Antiwar Activism, and the Case of Louise Olivereau

Chapter 8 Portland 1916-1920 p. 141

Birth Control, Antiwar Activism, and the Case of Marie Equi.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 185-191) and index.

ISBN:

9780870719394

0870719394

OCLC:

1029447691