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I was today years old when I learned that bikes are feminist.
Don’t understand how that can be the case? Here’s a thread explaining why.
Don’t understand how that can be the case? Here’s a thread explaining why.
Before bikes were invented (in Coventry) women didn't have many choices for how they got around.
Basically, they had three options.
1 -- they could go on foot
2 -- they could ride in a carriage
3 -- they could go on horseback
Basically, they had three options.
1 -- they could go on foot
2 -- they could ride in a carriage
3 -- they could go on horseback
Regardless of which option they chose (and this choice was usually made for them, determined by their class) -- they would have to do it with a male chaperone.
Slowly.
Gracefully.
Preferrably silently.
Why?
Slowly.
Gracefully.
Preferrably silently.
Why?
The first bikes didn't really do much to change this as they were developed exclusively for -- you guessed it -- men.
Why? Because you can't ride a bicycle sidesaddle -- which is the only way a woman could ride anything in the 19th century apparently.
Why? Because you can't ride a bicycle sidesaddle -- which is the only way a woman could ride anything in the 19th century apparently.
But then came the safety bicycle -- designed to be safe for children to ride.
At which point women everywhere thought "well, if it's safe for a child, it's safe for me." And got on their bikes.
At which point women everywhere thought "well, if it's safe for a child, it's safe for me." And got on their bikes.
What happened next? You guessed it!
Men started freaking out about women having orgasms.
Men started freaking out about women having orgasms.
OBVIOUSLY if women went around straddling bicycles then they would start having orgasms out on the street and that would absolutely not be okay.
But not all men were opposed to the bike's potential impact on women.
Some theorised that the motion of riding a bicycle would make them more fit for motherhood.
Some theorised that the motion of riding a bicycle would make them more fit for motherhood.
But it wasn't just orgasms and strong pelvic floors -- there were also risks to cycling.
Doctors warned the rattling of women's innards could lead to tuburculosis, gout, or the dreaded "bicycle face" -- the tense expression that comes from cycling and leaves you unloveable.
Doctors warned the rattling of women's innards could lead to tuburculosis, gout, or the dreaded "bicycle face" -- the tense expression that comes from cycling and leaves you unloveable.
Nevertheless, she persisted.
Women cyclists became known as velocipedestriennes and they were badass.
Women cyclists became known as velocipedestriennes and they were badass.
The first thing to go were the restrictively long skirts. There's only so many times you can get your dress caught in a pedal before you say enough is enough.
The bicycling costume was born which was, essentially, trousers.
The bicycling costume was born which was, essentially, trousers.
And the men responded...
..by forming a society which pledged never to talk to bicycling costume wearing women and to attempt to "render such costumes unpopular."
..by forming a society which pledged never to talk to bicycling costume wearing women and to attempt to "render such costumes unpopular."
Soon bikes came to be seen as the symbol of the New Woman -- an association so strong that when Cambridge Undergrads protested the admission of women in 1897 they did it by burning an effigy of a woman on a bicycle.
So it's no surprise that bicycles became a campaigning tool of the suffragette movement.
Alice Hawkins, a suffragette, cycled around Leicester promoting the women's rights movement, causing outrage by being one of the first ladies to wear pantaloons in the city.
Alice Hawkins, a suffragette, cycled around Leicester promoting the women's rights movement, causing outrage by being one of the first ladies to wear pantaloons in the city.
Susan B. Anthony, perhaps, said it best:
"The bicycle has done more to emancipate women than any one thing in the world. I rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a bike. It gives her a feeling of self-reliance and independence...the picture of untrammelled womanhood."
"The bicycle has done more to emancipate women than any one thing in the world. I rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a bike. It gives her a feeling of self-reliance and independence...the picture of untrammelled womanhood."
But despite years on the saddle -- women still haven't found equality on their bikes.
A new survey has revealed that a quarter of professional female cyclists don't earn a salary https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/new-survey-reveals-25-per-cent-of-female-professional-riders-earn-zero-salary/
A new survey has revealed that a quarter of professional female cyclists don't earn a salary https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/new-survey-reveals-25-per-cent-of-female-professional-riders-earn-zero-salary/
And despite the historic and passionate obsession with the relationship between the bike and the vulva -- modern saddle design still leaves women with pain and swelling https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/mar/26/hannah-dines-saddle-research-pain-swelling-female-cyclists
And it seems despite having over 100 years to get used to it, folks still aren't happy to see women on their bikes -- with a report finding women cyclists were twice as likely as men to be abused or harrassed on the road. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2019/oct/04/why-are-female-cyclists-targeted-by-aggressive-drivers-for-abuse
But despite all that they suffer -- women keep demanding their freedom.
They keep demanding their independence.
They keep riding their bikes.
And long may we do so.
They keep demanding their independence.
They keep riding their bikes.
And long may we do so.
Want to know more?
Read -- https://www.bustle.com/p/the-feminist-history-of-bicycles-57455
Read -- Bikes and Bloomers by @katjungnickel
(And a big thanks to @Opiumia for telling me bikes are feminist and encouraging me to do some research).
Read -- https://www.bustle.com/p/the-feminist-history-of-bicycles-57455
Read -- Bikes and Bloomers by @katjungnickel
(And a big thanks to @Opiumia for telling me bikes are feminist and encouraging me to do some research).
Inspired by so many of the responses to this thread, I want to hear more of your Velocipedestrienne stories!
Please share them with the hashtag #IAmAVelocipedestrienne
Please share them with the hashtag #IAmAVelocipedestrienne
