Publication
Title
Women at the wheel : female management and workforce at the nineteenth-century funfair
Author
Abstract
In the flourishing entertainment culture of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries women were omnipresent on stage, showcasing their physical prowess as dancers, acrobats, trapeze artists, and animal tamers. However, the extent of their involvement behind the scenes remains relatively unknown. This paper explores the often-overlooked contributions of women in the management and workforce of the nineteenth-century funfair business in Western Europe, shedding light on their pivotal role in shaping and driving the success of these captivating spectacles. Within the funfair context, women were engaged at various levels, occupying positions as roundabout proprietors, stallholders, and managers of traveling shows, including theaters, menageries, wax museums, and puppet booths. Their involvement spanned across multiple facets of the funfair, encompassing both the administrative and operational aspects of these diverse attractions. Through a comprehensive analysis of historical sources and records, this study aims to unveil the significant influence wielded by women in an era where their participation in the public domains was limited.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Early popular visual culture. - Abingdon, 2005, currens
Publication
Abingdon : 2024
ISSN
1746-0654 [print]
1746-0662 [online]
1746-0662 [online]
DOI
10.1080/17460654.2023.2298434
Volume/pages
(2024) , 19 p.
ISI
001149842000001
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
The author-created version that incorporates referee comments and is the accepted for publication version Available from 08.02.2025
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
Science at the Fair: Performing Knowledge and Technology in Western Europe, 1850-1914 (SciFair).
Publication type
Subject
Art 
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 02.02.2024
Last edited 11.04.2024
To cite this reference