FReeper Canteen ~ Part X of Women Warriors: Women Revolutionaries ~ March 23, 2004

GenderGap.com ^ | March 23, 2004 | LaDivaLoca

[LaDivaLoca]

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Part X: Women Revolutionaries

In 1670 Alyona, a former nun, led a troop of rebels who took the Russian town of Temnikov. She was eventually captured by government soldiers and burned at the stake.

In Mexico both Zapata's and Pancho Villa's peasant armies included women revolutionaries called "soldaderas" who originated in the ranks of the camp followers who provided water, food, clothing and medical care for the troops. The soldaderas organized their own units, armed themselves with pistols and rifles and engaged in battle alongside the men. Adelita, heroine of the revolutionary song, fought with Zapata's forces. During the Mexican War of Independence in 1810 Gertrudis Bocanegra raised an army of women and led them in battle. She died in 1817 after being arrested and tortured. (Click on picture for link to additional information)

The two pictures above show very different views of soldaderas. The first artist on the top, Jose Guadalupe Posada, shows the soldadera as a menacing figure, a soldier who is ready to fight; the only thing distinguishing her from a male soldier is her dress. The second artist, Angel Martin, portrays the soldadera as a sexual being, upholding the stereotype that the purpose of a soldadera was to seduce the male soldiers. (Arrizon 22-23)

The view portrayed in the last picture distorted the image of soldaderas because in reality, they were ordinary women that were extraordinary only in their will to fight for what they believed in. Most of them were mestizas or Indian women, including schoolteachers and wives of soldiers who had nowhere to go. They were both educated and uneducated, rich and poor. Many soldaderas went into battle with their children on their backs. Soldaderas showed just as much courage as their male counterparts during combat. They were also important because they had other skills that sustained the troops. They cooked, foraged for food, nursed wounded or sick soldiers, or performed other much-needed tasks. (Arrizon 1-23)

Baltazara Chuiza led a revolt against the Spanish in Ecuador in 1778 ... Micaela Bastidas fought alongside her husband, Tupac Amaru in the Peruvian rebellion of 1780, leading troops of both men and women in battle. (Micaela, picture on the right)

In 1780 Manuela Beltran organized a peasant uprising to protest excess taxation in Columbia and led her forces against government troops. She was the first person to publicly challenge the Spanish exploitation. When the Spanish crown increased taxes,  Manuela took from the tax collector's hand the edict and tore it - something previously unseen. She organized a peasant revolt in the main cities of the north east. The news and success of the revolt served as a catalyst for a revolution throughout the New Granada. But when the word reached the Viceroy, a head-hunt for Manuela was organized, resulting in her decapitation. She was the first seed of defiance against the colonizer and became a national martyr.

Lorenza Avemanay, a South American Indian, led a revolt against the Spanish in Ecuador in 1803.

Juana Azurduy was a guerilla leader in Bolivia in the early 1800s

In 1825 Ana Monterrosso de Lavelleja was the leader of the "Thirty-three Orientales", a guerrilla force which fought the Spanish in Uruguay.

Louisa Battistati, an Italian patriot, defended the town of Milan for 5 days and afterward the nearby town of Bettabia, during the Revolution of 1848.

Mariana Braceti, a Puerto Rican revolutionary in the 1860's, led troops of men and women in battle and was known as the "golden arm" because of her skill with a sword.

Candelaria Figuerdo was 16 when she joined the Cuban revolutionary forces in 1868 and is said to be the first woman to fight in the ranks in defense of Cuba.

Mahal Hazrat, the Begum of Oudhad, was an Indian Muslim queen who defended Lucknow against the British during the Indian Mutiny of 1857-1858. Sword in hand, Begum Hazrat Mahal led forces herself and directed army operations. (Click on picture for additional information)

Lakshmi Bai, the Rani of Jhansi, was another woman prominent in the Indian Mutiny. She was the regent for her infant son and the military advisor for the Jhansi army. When Jhansi was attacked by the British she called on all noblewomen to defy purdah and join her on the battlefield. She was killed in battle at the age of 22. (Click on picture for additional information)

Tarabai of Rajasthan led male and female troops into battle against the British during the Mutiny. She died on the battlefield after being stabbed in the back by a British soldier while trying to carry one of her wounded soldiers to safety ... There were a number of women in the Rajput Army included one all female cavalry troop.

Louise Clemence  Michel, a leader of the Paris Commune, prevented General Franco's Nationalist from taking over the city through repeated guerilla attacks on his forces. In 1871 the women of the commune banded together, armed themselves and joined the fighting as an all female brigade.

Next Tuesday, Conclusion of Women Warriors
American Women in Uniform

[NewRomeTacitus]

The spirit of the woman warrior.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thank you, 1Sgt Mike, for your service to our country with the Army National Guard.

Prayers, Mike, for your further surgery, and your "kids" as they prepare for coming home.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hi Stu!! Thank you for serving this great nation of ours.
Prayers for your safety and success in Afghanistan. Thanks to Brad and Graham too.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hope you are home by now, John!
Flight got delayed until the 19th so I'm out at BIAP enjoying doing nothing! Enjoy. John

Hi, John. Thanks for your service to America. Prayers sent for your success and safety.
Waiting for your flight on the 19th!!

Hi, John....thanks for letting us know your status. We were hoping no news meant you were on a plane. ohioWfan's son is in Kuwait, as is HopeandGlory's DIL. They too, are soon for home.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Yippee! Eric's in Kuwait, starting his journey home!!

Thank you, Eric, for your service to our great America.
Prayers for your safety and success of mission.

Anticipation

Nobody Does It Better

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, Boys!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, Girls!

[cyborg]

I just talked to my sis in Japan. While we're muttering about Spain, she there were bombers flying over her head in Thailand (where she went for break). Lots and lots of troop concentration South Korea. I think NK's days are numbered.

Prayers for all... cute graphic btw... I'm going beddie bye!

[Kathy in Alaska]

44 days and counting, armyboy.
Thank you for serving America.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hmmmm.....could be interesting. I'm outta here, and off to my bed.

[Radix]

Do you keep all of your pin-ups on the inside walls of that little fishing hut?

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin', everybody ! Happy Tuesday !

Have a cup while you Freep !

For those who prefer hot chocolate.....

[JohnHuang2]

G'morning to y'all -- God bless our troops, God bless the U.S.A.

[E.G.C.]

Good morning, Kathy.((HUGS))How's it going?

And a very pleasant good morning to everyone at the Freeper canteen and to al our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your continued service to our country.

Congrat to OU men and ladies on great season. They both lost their respective toruney games last night. OSU plays Thursday.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[E.G.C.]

Good morning, LaDivaLoca.((HUGS))How's it going?

[Texas Termite]

Good morning to you all and good morning TROOPS !

Nana, Mommy and I are up early ..... sipping milk and coffee.

Hope it's a wonderful day for everyone :)

*TT*

[MoJo2001]

Good morning, TT!!

I'm up! I'm up! Not because I want to be up. I've gotta run Bobby and Timmy to school.

So?? Are you eating pancakes yet?? Ask your mommy to feed you some delicious pancakes with lots and lots of syrup. Yummy!!

Have a great day TT!!
Remember, being good is someone else's drama. Hehe!

[MoJo2001]

Good morning, Diva!!

Women Revolutionaries!! WooHoo!!

Fabulous idea and thread!!

MoJo can relate. I'm a revolution all by myself!! LOL!

*HUGS*
Have an awesome day!

[MoJo2001]

Good morning, EGC!

How are you today??

*HUGS*