April 5 2013
Journal for Women Freedom and Hosiery
Jennifer Lorraine Fraser
- I must admit that I was terrible of keeping track of the hours I spent compiling information and working on the exhibition. For every spare moment I had, or didn’t have for that matter, I found myself immersed deeper and deeper into the project. I went into the project thinking of one outcome, but now as it is nearing completion I am beginning to see anew. The information available on the selected topics of the Female Refuges Act of Ontario, The nature of women’s work in hosiery mills of London Ontario and incarcerated as part of the statute for the FRA, the history of women as provocateur in the early twentieth century. This project has become for me something that I am so passionate about. On many levels, personally and academically. Personally, I have come to understand so much of the landscape women have had to cross in order to find their footing today. Powerful individuality and self-awareness has been necessary. The information comes in spurts and what is revealed always opens new insights into what was, what could have been and how it can be interpreted. The most difficulty I am facing is the ability to write a concluding statement describing my findings. For I believe that, for lack of a better term I have opened a can of worms, an untouched history of women’s work in London Ontario. Perhaps, it is because London has been inclusive to women since the beginning. Women of London, were some of the first to be educated in the arts, medicine and other areas of academia. I feel as though there is a common ground for intellectuals, other professionals and students regardless of gender. Women were some of the first art teachers of London as well, and were strong examples of individual success. These points are all made in a hurried awareness of a small area of the history of this city.
Women, Freedom and Hosiery is confirming this for me. I feel as though I came into the project attempting to unveil some monstrosity of labour practices. However, I am finding that women in London, worked hard, enjoyed their work and were celebrated for their work. They had a strength of character that one does not read about in other disciplines. It could be that because I have not been able to find actual court documents of the FRA statute in use. To shed light on who they were and how women were incarcerated here. Thankfully, Mr. Flood was able to share with me his story of using the statute to help a father with his daughter who was working as a prostitute, but other than that the history has been left untouched and silent. I hope to revisit this topic again soon, for I need to be able to dive more deeply into the history. Find those documents. With that being said I can only conclude that I have found something quite different than what I was searching for, different and even more enticing. The organic nature of the project, growing this way and that, yet revealing truths and hidden histories is what I love most about conducting research within the world of art history and history in general. Being able to relate it back to our present day is fascinating and hopeful. Thank you so much for this opportunity. It has been so much fun to work on.
Jennifer.
Journal for Women Freedom and Hosiery
Jennifer Lorraine Fraser
- I must admit that I was terrible of keeping track of the hours I spent compiling information and working on the exhibition. For every spare moment I had, or didn’t have for that matter, I found myself immersed deeper and deeper into the project. I went into the project thinking of one outcome, but now as it is nearing completion I am beginning to see anew. The information available on the selected topics of the Female Refuges Act of Ontario, The nature of women’s work in hosiery mills of London Ontario and incarcerated as part of the statute for the FRA, the history of women as provocateur in the early twentieth century. This project has become for me something that I am so passionate about. On many levels, personally and academically. Personally, I have come to understand so much of the landscape women have had to cross in order to find their footing today. Powerful individuality and self-awareness has been necessary. The information comes in spurts and what is revealed always opens new insights into what was, what could have been and how it can be interpreted. The most difficulty I am facing is the ability to write a concluding statement describing my findings. For I believe that, for lack of a better term I have opened a can of worms, an untouched history of women’s work in London Ontario. Perhaps, it is because London has been inclusive to women since the beginning. Women of London, were some of the first to be educated in the arts, medicine and other areas of academia. I feel as though there is a common ground for intellectuals, other professionals and students regardless of gender. Women were some of the first art teachers of London as well, and were strong examples of individual success. These points are all made in a hurried awareness of a small area of the history of this city.
Women, Freedom and Hosiery is confirming this for me. I feel as though I came into the project attempting to unveil some monstrosity of labour practices. However, I am finding that women in London, worked hard, enjoyed their work and were celebrated for their work. They had a strength of character that one does not read about in other disciplines. It could be that because I have not been able to find actual court documents of the FRA statute in use. To shed light on who they were and how women were incarcerated here. Thankfully, Mr. Flood was able to share with me his story of using the statute to help a father with his daughter who was working as a prostitute, but other than that the history has been left untouched and silent. I hope to revisit this topic again soon, for I need to be able to dive more deeply into the history. Find those documents. With that being said I can only conclude that I have found something quite different than what I was searching for, different and even more enticing. The organic nature of the project, growing this way and that, yet revealing truths and hidden histories is what I love most about conducting research within the world of art history and history in general. Being able to relate it back to our present day is fascinating and hopeful. Thank you so much for this opportunity. It has been so much fun to work on.
Jennifer.