Women in the early 20th century fought against “spinners” and prepared for unwanted advances with hat pins and parasols. This was a liberating time for women who enjoyed more freedoms outside the home, rejecting the idea of dressing modestly to avoid unwanted attention. The Chicago City Council attempted to ban long hat pins, but activists refused to comply.
In the early years of the 20th century, women began to fight against “spinners,” a slang term used to describe lewd or predatory men of the time. Women of all ages were prepared for unwanted touching, nasty comments, or incivility of any kind. A 20cm long hat pin, typically used by women to hold elaborate hats in place, was ideal for making a point during an assault. A parasol or umbrella has also come in handy for women who have begun to enjoy more freedoms outside the home, such as taking public transport alone or walking at night without an escort.
Hear them roar:
It was a liberating time for women. A man no longer “called” to a woman’s home, courting her in the living room under the watchful eye of her parents. She was free to be taken to a performance or a ballroom.
Suffragettes of the time rejected the idea that unaccompanied women should dress as modestly as possible to avoid unwanted attention.
In 1910, the Chicago City Council attempted to ban pins longer than 9 inches, threatening arrest and a fine. The response of the activists: “No man has the right to tell me how he will dress and what I will wear”.
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