#international suffrage

[digitalnewberry]

Women's rights [pro and con] postcards at Newberry Digital Collections

Happy International Women's Day from this incredible collection of anti-suffragette postcards that predicted a dystopian future where men take care of children. 👶

Send an e-greeting to a friend with Newberry Postcard Sender!

[themakeupbrush]

Miss International United Kingdom 2022 National Costume

My national costume is dedicated to the women who took the first steps to allow us to take our stance in todays society. The colours of my national costume represent that of the colours used in the campaign to gain the right to vote for women. Purple for Loyalty and Dignity, White for Purity and Green for Hope. In addition to the colours, I had decided to include the crest of our late Queen, Elizabeth II, as she had helped normalise women in power through her reign over the last 7 decades. In 1918, women over the ages of 30 had won the right to vote for the first time in the United Kingdom and a decade later this had changed to women over the ages of 21. The right to vote was not an easy journey, one of Britain’s most iconic Suffragette, Emmeline Pankhurst dedicated 40 years to the cause and lost her life in the process. Women have played a significant role in todays society, though the journey continues to achieve equality in all aspects of life. To be a part of Miss International alongside 68 other sister queens from around the world; I am proud to say we are change makers that are making a difference in our respected countries.

[theculturedmarxist]

Contrary to the myth that socialists have always ignored gender oppression, full women’s suffrage was first won by socialist feminists — and working-class revolt.

There are a lot of different ways to discredit working-class politics. As the continued promotion of the “Bernie Bro” myth illustrates, one of the most popular today is to claim that socialists ignore women’s oppression. Elaborate versions of this argument fill the news-media, Twitter, and academia. By focusing only on economic issues and class, we are told, the socialist movement has always marginalized women and their specific demands for equality.

Like all good liberal myths, these arguments rely on bad history. Working-class feminism has a long and rich legacy. For over a century working women fought for their own liberation through the socialist movement.

Few cases better illustrate this point (or have been more buried by history) than that of turn-of-the-century Finland. In 1906, through a mass general strike and working-class insurgency against the Russian Empire, it became the first nation in the world to grant full universal suffrage — i.e. the right to vote and run for office. Socialists were at the forefront.

The Finnish Buildup

Of all the lands of the tsarist empire, Finland had throughout the nineteenth century been allowed the most self-government and political freedom. Annexing Finland from Sweden in 1809, the Tsar granted its new dominion extensive autonomy, though the Russian regime maintained ultimate authority. Finland preserved its own constitution and most state functions were governed by Finns through their autonomous Senate. In 1863, a new Finnish parliament was established, though only a small percentage of the population was allowed to participate in its election.

A crucial turning point in Finnish history came in 1899. In February, the Tsar began to eliminate Finland’s special autonomous status, attempting to bring it under the same forms of administration as the rest of the empire. Soon a major Finnish national protest movement emerged against this “Russification.”

1899 also marked the emergence of the Finnish labor movement as an independent political force. After a string of labor strikes, the Finnish Workers Party was founded in July 1899. Whereas socialist parties across the Russian empire were banned and forced underground, the relative political freedom prevailing in Finland allowed the Workers Party to exist as a legal organization.

Though virtually all labor leaders in Finland supported the reestablishment of Finnish autonomy, the question of whether to collaborate, and on what basis, with the Finnish liberal “constitutionalists” against Russification became a major debate. While the constitutionalists essentially fought for a return to the pre-1899 status quo, the labor movement tied the national struggle to popular demands, such as improved conditions for urban and rural workers, the prohibition of alcohol, and the expansion of the vote.

One of the central points of contention between workers and constitutionalists was the issue of suffrage, from which all working people — both men and women — were excluded at that time. Constitutionalists refused to support universal suffrage. The conservative Association of Finnish Women led by women’s rights activist Alexandra Gripenberg, for example, argued that lower-class women were ignorant and prone to vice, therefore they had to be guided by their morally superior upper-class sisters.

In contrast, the Workers Party from its inception demanded suffrage for all: the right to vote and to run for office irrespective of wealth, gender, or nationality. In 1900, it helped found the socialist-led League of Working Women to involve working-class women in the labor movement, to develop their leadership capacity, and to help raise their demands.

Socialist leader Hilja Pärssinen, the working-women movement’s main theoretician, advocated a strict class-against-class perspective along the lines set out by the German Marxists August Bebel and Clara Zetkin. Pärssinen’s 1903 pamphlet on women and the vote made the case for irreconcilable class conflict: bourgeois women wanted only equality with upper-class men, while women workers wanted the vote to pass laws to improve their material conditions.

That same year, the Workers Party adopted a Marxist program, renamed itself the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and announced that if its suffrage demands were not met, it would resort to a general strike to win them.

The Great Strike of 1905

The Bloody Sunday massacre of unarmed protestors in St Petersburg on January 9, 1905 sparked revolt across the entire empire. This upheaval, more often than not under socialist leadership or influence, demanded better working conditions, political freedom, and a democratic republic — and it came close to toppling the increasingly discredited tsarist regime.

The revolution arrived relatively late in Finland. Inspired by the general strike in central Russia, Finnish railway workers walked off the job on October 29, 1905, setting into motion the “Great Strike.” By October 30, all of Finland was on strike, and effective power passed into the hands of strike committees and armed guards. The event radically transformed the consciousness of urban and rural working people. And perhaps nowhere was this transformation more pronounced than among women workers.

Palvelijatarlehti (The Maids’ Paper) noted:

The strike week was a wake-up week for the rights of women. … As soon as the strike began, women started to hold special meetings in which they debated their economic position, and these meetings were flooded by people. It was as if it took the breakout of the general strike to make women realize that it would depend on themselves whether the status of women improved or not.

Miina Sillanpää, the influential socialist leader of the maids’ association, noted that the week of the general strike accomplished among the maids “more than what could have been promoted in ten years of peaceful conditions.” Bourgeois society was particularly scandalized by the participation of their servants in the action, which shattered paternalistic notions of maids as members of the host family and represented the direct intrusion of the labor movement into their homes. In daily mass meetings in a Helsinki elementary school courtyard, thousands of servants came together to formulate their demands.

The call for full suffrage was legitimized by this mass female participation in all arenas of the strike, including in its top leadership; the Tampere Strike Committee, initially composed only of men, was quickly reorganized to include ten women and twelve men.

“We live in a wonderful period of time,” wrote Alma Malander in the SDP newspaper Kansan Lehti (The People’s Paper) in December 1905:

Peoples who were humble and satisfied to bear the burden of slavery have suddenly thrown off their yoke. Groups who until now have been eating pine bark, now demand bread. The oppressed demand justice! … Women, who have always been subordinate, suddenly get the idea that they really are equal with the other sex.

Faced with the imminent overthrow of the regime by a paralyzing labor strike, peasant rebellions, and army mutinies, the Tsar was forced on October 30 to promise civil liberties and a parliament for the whole empire. On November 4, the Tsar’s “November Manifesto” repealed the Russification of Finland, reestablishing the pre-1899 status quo — without guaranteeing that the new Finnish Parliament would be elected by the whole population.

Though constitutionalists and socialists had closely collaborated during the first days of the November Great Strike, this tenuous alliance quickly broke down into open conflict. After the Tsar’s “November Manifesto,” the constitutionalists pushed for an end to the strike, as their main demand — the restoration of pre-1899 “constitutional legality” — had been achieved. In contrast, the workers’ movement continued to demand universal suffrage and a unicameral parliament.

Having felt their power to shut down society, Finnish workers were determined to continue mobilizing. Immediately following the strike, the SDP began organizing mass demonstrations and building for a new general strike to ensure their political demands. The next half-year witnessed an unprecedented number of strikes, the rapid spread of socialist influence among tenant farmers and workers in the countryside, the creation of a workers’ Red Guard, and closer Finnish socialist collaboration with Russian Marxists. It was during this upsurge that the campaign for women’s suffrage reached its highest peak.

The Suffrage Struggle

Following the Great Strike, there was considerable and justifiable concern that women would be excluded in the upcoming elections. During the April 1905 suffrage reform bill discussions in the Finnish parliament, only the Peasants Estate had supported women’s suffrage, while other estates and the various constitutionalist parties all favored giving the vote only to men. The chair of the Parliamentary Reform Committee chosen in November 1905 to draft the new suffrage rules was liberal leader Robert Hermanson, an outspoken opponent of women’s suffrage. Women, he felt, were by nature emotional creatures prone to extremism and ill-suited for politics.

In this context, League of Working Women leaders argued that working-class women had to take the initiative to ensure that their demands were met:

We [working women] have to shout to the world that we are demanding the right to vote and to stand for election, and that we are not going to settle for anything less. Now is not the time for compromises, because if we are excluded now, we can be sure that it will remain that way for a long time.

By the end of 1905, the League, with the support of the whole Finnish Social Democracy, had organized 231 suffrage meetings across the nation with 41,333 participants. It called for a new general strike in the case that women were excluded from the vote, and it established a special women’s committee to start preparations.

It was announced that any male party members who opposed women’s suffrage would be denounced as collaborators of the bourgeoisie. Some female workers threatened to go on a cooking strike at home to force skeptical husbands to support their struggle. And there were even public statements made that if women were left out of the vote, women workers would, if necessary, strike on their own, even against the opposition of the other party members.

The influx of women into political life challenged traditional gender roles. Miina Sillanpää called on men to stay at home and watch the children to enable their wives’ participation in political meetings.

Perhaps the most powerful actions of the suffrage campaign were its mass demonstrations. On December 17, 1905, the League organized protests for women’s suffrage in sixty-three towns across the nation, bringing together over 22,000 demonstrators. A “National Women’s Declaration” written by the League’s leadership was sent out to be adopted by each rally.

The fate [of Finland] concerns us just as much as men. Is it any wonder that tens of thousands of us rise up to call for our rights, to demand for ourselves equality with men. A powerful cry is echoing across our country at this moment, from the large cities to the villages, showing that the majority of citizens support the heartfelt wishes of women. The demand of women for the vote and to run in elections will be silenced only when it is granted. The right to vote is a means for us to shut off the flow of alcohol, to raise the proletariat from material and psychological distress, to prepare the way for light and freedom.

The rallies continued into 1906 and the Finnish Social Democratic Party did not waver on demanding suffrage for all. But a new general strike did not ultimately prove necessary to win this demand, as the Parliamentary Reform Committee eventually announced that all women would be allowed to vote and run for office, despite considerable controversy within the Committee over the latter point in particular.

How can we explain this decision by a Finnish political elite that until then had consistently opposed universal suffrage? Put simply, they were forced into it. The pressure of the workers’ upsurge during and following the Great Strike of 1905, and the real threat of a new general strike, proved greater than elite opposition to universal suffrage.

That the suffrage decision had been imposed from below was openly admitted at the time. The influential banker and politician Emil Schybergson told the Parliamentary Reform Committee that the revolution had forced them to rush through a decision that might otherwise have waited another fifty years. Indeed, it took many more decades for other countries to grant full suffrage, including France (1944), Italy (1946), and Switzerland (1971).

The Tsar’s acceptance of the Finnish suffrage proposal on July 20, 1906 was similarly a victory imposed by revolutionary struggle. Such an act would have been inconceivable without ongoing mass rebellion across Russia, which flared up again that summer in a new wave of peasant revolts and army mutinies. Through this concession, the embattled tsarist regime hoped to quell unrest in Finland in order to concentrate its forces on putting down the revolution in the rest of the empire.

The suffrage campaign lasted all the way through 1907. In January, the League sent out a memorandum to its local branches, calling on them to ensure that the SDP electoral slates include a sufficient number of women candidates. By this time, over 18,000 women had joined the party, close to a quarter of the total membership.

The 1907 elections were swept by the Finnish Social Democracy. It won 37 percent of the vote — the highest of any party — and of the nineteen women in the new Parliament, nine were socialists. The latter were a remarkable group, all leaders of the League and most from humble backgrounds. Anni Huotari, Maria Laine, Maria Raunio, and Sandra Reinholdsson were seamstresses; Jenny Kilpianen was a weaver; Mimmi Kanervo was a maid, as had been Miina Sillanpää; Ida Ahlstedt was a baker and boarding-house operator; and Hilja Pärssinen was a school teacher.

Prominent feminists were, at best, ambivalent about the suffrage victory. The Finnish Women’s Association’s top leaders still stressed that Finnish working-class women were too backwards and unprepared for full suffrage. Alexandra Gripenberg declared to a 1907 women’s congress in Vienna that the entry of uneducated, plebeian women into Parliament was a “horrible” embarrassment. Most of the socialist MPs, Gripenberg lamented, were “formerly servants, factory hands, or seamstresses. … It was a mistake that so few really able and suitable women for the work in the Diet [Parliament] were elected. … If we had women lawyers, merchants, physicians, scientists, and so on, women’s words would have weighed more.”

Hilja Pärssinen, in contrast, traveled abroad to present the Finnish struggle as an unqualified victory and a vindication of a strict class-versus-class political perspective. She argued in the British newspaper Justice that “women who have to fight together with their men comrades for the abolition of the present capitalist system and the private ownership of the means of production cannot work together with women who support this very system.” In an interview with the Christian Science Monitor, she declared:

I should very much like through your paper to send a message to the American people, and to ask them why they have not yet granted the suffrage to women, and to urge upon them, out of a considerable practical experience of its value, the importance of making this great, and ultimately necessary, political change.

Pärssinen’s perspective was shared by the workers’ movement in Russia and beyond. For August Bebel, the German SPD leader and author of the influential work Women and Socialism, the events in Finland represented “the triumph of international socialism.” Similarly, Alexandra Kollontai at the 1908 First All-Russian Women’s Congress pointed to Finland to show that “in those countries where unlimited political rights for women have been achieved, this has been done only with the help of the social-democrats.”

[smak-annihilation]

today is the 8th of march, international women's day

today is 116 years since the female garment workers protested against working conditions

today is 115 years since the Socialist party of America spearheaded the first national women's day

today is 114 years since Clara Zetkin's efforts were successful and women's day turned international with the help of European socialist parties

today is 111 years since the march 8th 1913 protest in Russia, where women protested against the looming possibility of a world war

today is 107 years since the start of the February (Gregorian and Julian calendar difference) revolution in Russia, which was mainly formed from breadline protestors, those being mainly women

today is only 49 years since the U.N. recognized International women's day (for reference "smoke on the water" by deep purple is 52 years old)

happy International women's day, here's to the many more that will come and the many steps we will take towards true gender equality

[notes-to-society]

Note to Society #36

Happy International Women’s Day!

As we come together to celebrate the achievements of women throughout history, it’s important to remember the ongoing struggles women across the world are facing.

Today, let’s keep a special focus on all of our sisters of color, queer sisters, trans sisters, Palestinian sisters, working class sisters, disabled sisters, and sisters struggling with reproductive Justice.

We must not forget where we come from, and we must remember who we are working to protect now. I hope you all have a wonderful day - and pass along some kind words to the wonderful women in your lives!

[nickysfacts]

Happy Women’s Day!🚺

We have come a long way, and hopefully one day are fight will all be complete and we are all empowered!💜

[arwendeluhtiene]

Women's rights are human rights ♀️💪✊💜💜! 

I find it important to also note that It's not 'happy international women's day' because it is *not* a day for celebration, at least not the way corporations (and flower-gifting men that don't deconstruct where the problem is 🙃) go about it: Yes, Women’s History Month is meant to keep visibilizing women in Herstory and women today (but also all year round!). But the reason why 8M still needs to exist is to remind everyone that women's rights are human rights, that we still live in patriarchal societies, that sexism and misogyny are still a thing in many ways and many places, that we haven't reached gender equality by a long shot, and that ALL women from ALL intersections of race and ethnicity, gender identity and sexuality, class, ability, body type, etc etc need to be visibilized and seen as equal human beings every single day of the year. It's not a birthday or anniversary or anything that merits flowers and felicitations, it's a day to remind everyone that there is a fight, and it is ongoing. . "Look, I did a wee bit of reading, and it turns out that for the most of the history of this planet men have treated women a teensy bit badly. As a woman, I object to that, so I decided to help" And regarding the exclusionary 'feminist' faction that has wrongly appropriated suffrage imagery for their own twisted discourse lately 😣, a reminder that when cosplaying Suffragette!Missy, it's a statement that here's a canonically genderfluid and queer character with a penchant for Edwardian nanny and Suffragette aesthetics who says intersectional feminism and women's rights for all women better than any in that group - and it's *Missy* 😅! 💜💚🌈💪✊♀

[randomevie]

Women’s History

viking age (800 to 1050 AD)

most women in the viking age were housewives to their husbands. they often managed the farms and agricultural responsibilities. women were believed to have a choice on who their husband was to be, and even were thought to be able to back out of a marriage if they later decided they didn’t like their husband.

women spent much of their time in the house working with wool, spinning yarn, sewing, and weaving for her family. taking care of the children was a large part of a woman’s life in the viking age. women were expected to have many children to help around the house, and they were expected to breastfeed each child after they were born (since formula was yet to exist).

compared to many women during this time period, viking women had lots of freedoms. in mythology the women are portrayed as independent, confident, and powerful. however, women at this time could not appear in court or receive a share of the man’s inheritance. men had all the political power in this society. literature from this time also shows that women could often find themselves with power if they could somehow make their husband respect them.

ancient egypt (2700 to 1100 BCE)

we all know the famed cleopatra, but ancient egypt has a longer history of powerful women. one of the first female pharaohs in egypt was hatshepsut, who began her rule around 1500 BCE. hatshepsut became queen when she married thutmose ii (her half-brother), around the age of 12. upon thutmose’s death in 1479 BC, she became regent for her stepson, who at the time was an infant. seven years later, she took on the title and full powers of a pharaoh, co-ruling with her stepson. hatshepsut’s step to power garnered lots of controversy, and she had to fight to prove her legitimacy to the throne. she was born to thutmose i, and she claimed that he had appointed her his successor. hatshepsut ordered to be portrayed as a male once she claimed the throne, wanting to be depicted with a beard and a muscular body. despite this order, there are images where she appears in the traditional female regalia of ancient egypt. she tried to surround herself with supporters from key positions in the ancient government, likely hoping to elevate her status and the trust of her subjects. she began taking on ambitious projects during the time of her rule. she is notably known for the memorial temple at deir el-bahir. she also authorized a trading expedition that brought back many profits for egypt like ivory, ebony, gold, leopard skins, incense, and more. hatshephut died around 1458 BC (in her mid-40s) and was buried in the valley of the kings located in the hills of deir el-bahir. her father was reburied to be with her, in a last effort to legimitize her reign. thutmose iii had almost any trace of hatshephut erased upon his rule, so she was not known about by scholars until 1822. another female ruler of egypt was nefertiti. she married amenhotep iv. it’s unknown exactly who nefertiti’s parents were, although it’s theorized she is either the daughter of ay, or a princess from a mittani kingdom in northern syria. amenhotep iv was a monotheist, and during his reign he displaced egypt’s cheif god, amon, in favor of aten. he also changed his name to akhenten, and nefertiti took the additional name of “neferneferuaten” which means “beautiful are the beauties of aten, a beautiful woman has come”. under her husband’s rule she began to be depicted as a mirror image of him. in tombs and temples built during akhenten’s reign, nefertiti is depicted in positions of power and authority that no other queen had been seen depicted with. some instances of this were leading worship of aten, or even smiting enemies. nefertiti mothered six daughters, and after the sixth, akhenten took other wives to eventually birth king tutankhamen. king tut would eventually go on to marry nefertiti’s daughter ankhesenpaatan. around the 12th year of akhenten’s reign, nefertiti seems to disappear from record. it is possible that this is because of her death, although many historians and scholars theorize that she actually took the guise of a man to rule alongside her husband as smenkhkare. it is thought that after his death, she took place to begin undoing his religious policies, which is rooted in the fact that nefertiti paid for a scribe to make divine offerings to amun, begging and pleading with the high god to come back and get rid of the darkness in her kingdom.

the most well known of the female rulers in ancient egypt is cleopatra. she was born in either 70 or 69 BC, the first daughter of ptolemy xii. at age 18, Cleopatra became the dominant co-regent with her 10 year old brother, ptolemy xiii. her brother’s advisors quickly took action against her place on the throne, and cleopatra fled egypt to syria in 49 BC. there, she raised an army, and returned to egypt to create a civil war at pelusium. during this time, ptolemy invited julius caesar to alexandria. cleopatra allegedly snuck into royal palace to plead for caesar’s help. caesar needed for egypt to pay it’s debts owed to auletes in order to fund his own return to power in rome. many months of fighting between the forces of julius caesar and ptolemy xiii occurred until roman reinforcements showed up and the pharaoh was forced to flee alexandria. thought of have drowned in the nile river, ptolemy xiii was never seen again. caesar entered alexandria and restored cleopatra to power, where she became co-regent to another younger brother of hers, ptolemy xiv (13 at the time). julius caesar stayed with cleopatra in egypt, and in 47 BC they had a child, ptolemy caesar, who was known to the egyptian people as “little caesar”. around 46 BC cleopatra traveled with her brother and son to visit caesar in rome, as he had returned sometime before. after he was murdered in 44 BC, she returned to egypt. ptolemy xiv was murdered soon after. cleopatra was named co-regent to her son. her hold on power at this time was as much as she had ever had, being that her son was still an infant. flooding began to lead to inflation and hunger while egypt was being asked for help in a roman conflict. cleopatra sent four roman legions who caesar had stationed in egypt to help his previous allies in rome. in 42 BC, after defeating caesar’s assassins, his allies split power in rome. mark antony, one of the allies, summoned cleopatra to tarsus to explain the role she had played in the roman conflict. according to plutarch, mark antony was seduced by cleopatra and agreed to protect egypt, along with cleopatra’s crown. cleopatra returned to egypt, followed by antony. he spent two years in alexandria. in this time, him and cleopatra formed a drinking society called “the inimitable livers”. in 40 BC, after antony had returned to rome, cleopatra gave birth to a set of twins who she donned alexander helios and cleopatra selene.

commonfolk women in egypt had a duty first as a mother and wife, often having professions like weaving, perfume making, and entertainment. despite their first commitment being towards family, they were allowed to have their own businesses, own and sell property, and serve as witnesses in a court case. many women in the middle east at the time were not allowed to be in the company of men, but in egypt they could be. divorce was also an option for the women of egypt as they were allowed to use it in order to escape bad marriages. from our earliest records, women and men seem to have a fairly similar formal status. both men and women in ancient egypt were able to choose their actions, and had to suffer the consequences of their own actions. women were legally allowed to acquire, own, and sell property, with or without a husband. they were allowed to initiate court cases, as well as do many other legal proceedings under their own name, rather than that of their husband. from the evidence we’ve recovered from the old kingdom, women were often shown as merchants and priestesses (most commonly being priestess for hathor).

although these may not seem like incredible privileges, ancient egypt was well ahead of other societies at the time and their views on equality.

ancient greece

women in ancient greece had very little rights under their own name. they were unable to vote, own/inherit land, and were often only seen as mothers and wives. women were allowed to go to school, but often had more of an emphasis towards dancing and music than towards academic subjects. women in ancient greece were expected to be virgins upon marriage, and were meant to marry at a young age. in most cases, the marriages were organized by the father, often having him sign a dowry for his daughter to marry someone’s son. if they did not have a father another male guardian or relative must sign off on the marriage. married off at 13 or 14, women lived their lives at home, their husbands often seeking satisfaction outside of their marriages. there was no a place in society for single females, as roles for them did not exist.

married women in ancient greece were seen as the property of their husbands by the law. they were expected to be faithful, despite their husbands having the option of going off to prostitutes, and were expected to bear children of the men they (most often) didn’t truly love. they were seen as incapable of making decisions for themselves. if a wife were to not honor her family, she would be banned from religious ceremonies, which in this society was an incredibly huge dishonor. if she were to cheat on her husband, the husband could kill her with no legal prosecution taking place. women had few personal belongings, most of which were clothes and jewelry that had been given to them. if one’s husband were to die, they could not inherit anything from the will, instead having to remarry and let her new husband claim it. if a father were to die, they’d leave their legacy for their male children, and if the women were an only child, her husband would be the one to claim the inheritance.

despite the treatment of women in ancient greek society, there were many powerful goddesses in greek mythology. athena was attributed goddess of wisdom and military victory, aphrodite the goddess of love and beauty, demeter the goddess of agriculture, hera the patron of childbirth, artemis the goddess of the hunt, selene the goddess of the moon, so on, and so on. women in the mythology are often depicted as emotional and troublemakers, showing their view on women during the time.

middle ages (5th to late 15th century)

women during the middle ages often had jobs working the land, and they participated in agricultural duties alongside men. women in the lower class were often bakers, brewers, milkmaids, barmaids, artisans, weavers, and farmers.

women of the time could be educated, but most were only educated in domestic affairs like sewing and cooking. although, noblewomen and nuns had access to many books, the common population did not. education was mostly restricted to the upper class and the clergy. women could have a place in the clergy, but only as nuns. noblewomen had power depending on how much land they brought to their marriage, as during this time, land often equaled power. women were expected to remain “pure” until they found themselves a husband.

women in the early middle ages found themselves gaining power for multiple reasons. with the outbreak of the black death, many of the european population died. because of the lack of people, women were allowed to own businesses that belonged to their late husbands. they were also gaining rights due to the popularity of the cult of the virgin mary. despite gaining a few rights within this time, they were always viewed as second class citizens, their lives an afterthought to the men who ruled.

marriage rights in this time were decided by the lords. once a woman was married, her husband was considered to be her owner. he would control what his wife’s interests and were considered responsible for any behavior a woman may show.

the reason women had so few rights during this time was because of the rise of the catholic church, and their beliefs lying in the story of adam and eve, seeing women as temptresses and often finding them to be evil.

women’s suffrage

during the 1820s and 1830s, the campaign for women’s suffrage truly begins. reform groups were beginning to organize across the united states, and women played a prominent role in the movements. in 1848, a group of abolitionist-activists gathered in seneca falls to discuss women’s rights. the majority of the group agreed that women were their own individuals that should have their own political identities.

when the 14th and 15th amendments were introduced, the women’s suffrage movement pushed for women’s rights to be introduced. the 14th amendment that allowed black men to vote defined citizens as males. women pushed harder against lawmakers to no avail. many women began to ally with racist southerners in an attempt to prevent the 15th amendment.

in 1869, the national women’s suffrage administration was founded by elizabeth cady stanton and susan b. anthony. the endangerment towards the rights of people of color by tying the movements together resulted in the formation of the american woman suffrage association. this group fought state-by-state for the enfranchisement of women, while also supporting the 15th amendment.

in 1890, the groups merged together to become the national american woman suffrage association. this group used a new argument for women’s suffrage. previously, women were arguing for the right to vote since they were equal to men, but in 1890 women began arguing for the right to vote because they were different from men. this argument served to the advantage of the women as it addressed many political agendas.

in 1910, western states began granting women the right to vote. southern and eastern states resisted this change, not believing women were worthy of the same rights as men. in 1916, the president of the national women’s suffrage association revealed the “winning plan”. this plan was a campaign which had local and state suffrage organizations travel the country to fight for their rights.

at the same time, the national women’s party was founded by alice paul. their strategy was to create drama such as hunger strikes and protests in front of the white house.

the mission of the suffragettes was slowed due to world war one. women managed to spin the narrative in their favor, claiming that their efforts during the war showed they were just as deserving as men of the right to vote, and on august 20, 1920, the 19th amendment was ratified.

some of my favorite women throughout history

marie-antoinette-josèphe-jeanne d’autriche-lorraine (originally maria antonia joseph’s joanna von österich-lothringen) was born november 2, 1755 in vienna, austria. she was the 11th daughter of the holy roman emperor francis i and maria theresa. at 14 years old, marie-antoinette’s hand in marriage was given to heir to the throne, louis xvi. she had an unpopular image when relations between france and austria became rocky. the public viewed her to be a representative of austria, which was a view that stuck to her her entire life. louis was an incredibly inattentive husband to the young girl, so she sought out entertainment in a circle of favorites and politically vulnerable companions. marie-thérèse-louise de savoie-carignan was one of marie-antoinette’s closest friends during this time. marie had very little political duties and spent lots of time indulging in her well-known extravagant taste. many people in the public poked fun at her at the time, and began to spread outlandish and sexual rumors about the girl. it became a trend to blame all of france’s problems on marie-antoinette.

after the american revolution, france began to fall into debt, and although it wasn’t her fault, marie began to get lots of blame. as time went on, many people began labeling her an “austrian whore”.

in oct of 1789, a min of parisian women protesting dragged the entire royal family to the city and imprisoned them. in june of 1781, louis xvi and marie-antoinette fled paris, hoping to escape to austria. there was a rumor that the holy roman emperor had troops prepared to invade france. this rumor once again sparked controversy for marie, labeling her as a traitor.

the royal family returned to france ans louis was reinstated as king. in april of 1792, the radical revolutionary government declared war against austria. the french army, which was broken in pieces at this point, did not fair well. they turned their blame to marie once again. in august, a mob overthrew the monarchy and locked the royal family in tower. the next month, revolutionaries began to massacre royalist prisoners by the thousands. during this time, marie’s best friend, princesse de lamballe, was dismembered in the streets. her body parts were then paraded through paris.

in december, louis was put to trial and beheaded for treason. in july of 1793, marie lost custody of her son, who was then forced to accuse her of sexual assault and incest against him. she was sent to the guillotine for treason at age 37.

-

anne boleyn was born around 1500 to sir thomas boleyn and elizabeth howard. much of childhood was spent in hever castle in kent, as her mother was the daughter of one of the most powerful men in the country.

in 1513, anne was sent to the court of marageret of austria, later being moved to a french court. anne had originally served as a companion to louis xii’s wife, mary. after his death in 1515, she settled in france in the household of queen claude. anne stood out amongst these courts as she was talented in music and dance. in 1522, boleyn returned to england and resides in king henry viii’s court. many people admired her beauty and youth, including the king himself.

at the time, henry was married to catherine of aragon, and together they had a daughter named mary. in 1527, henry began to secretly plan an annulment for his wedding to queen catherine. the pope refused to grant the annulment to henry.

in january of 1533, henry and anne were secretly wed. on easter of that year, their wedding was made public. their marriage was only valid due to the fact that henry changed the church that england followed with. while married to catherine of aragon, england followed the rules and regulations of the catholic church, but upon his marriage with anne, the country found itself operating under the church of england.

anne bore a child, elizabeth i. unfortunately, after this, she had many miscarriages followed but no successful pregnancies. in 1536, anne was accused of adultery and plotting against the kings life. on may 2, she was arrested and taken to the tower of london. anne tried to plead innocent, but the king had already fallen for another mistress and took no mercy upon her pleas. on may 19, she was beheaded by a skilled swordsman. her final words were reported to have been, “i am come hither to die, for according to the law and by the law i am judged to die, and therefore i will speak nothing against it… i pray god save the king… for a gentler nor a more merciful prince was never there.” she was buried in the chapel of st. peter and vincula tower.

11 days after anne’s execution, henry married his mistress, jane seymour.

-

marie laveau was born september 10, 1801. she is often referred to as the most famous voodoo queen of the south. while there isn’t much information available about marie laveau, many scholars agree the story begins with her grandmother, catherine henry. catherine was said to have gone through a long line of owners before being emancipated and becoming a free woman of color. catherine took the name and surname of her first master henry roche belaire. catherine’s daughter, marguerite remained with roche until he died before being sold to another. this new master set her free.

after having gained her freedom, marguerite became a placée of henri d’arcantel. a placée performed all the duties of a wife, but were not recognized as such to the public.

marie’s father, charles laveau, was a free black man, so when marie was born, she found herself born into freedom. there is little known about marie’s childhood, but it’s believed that she lived with her grandmother.

legal records show a marriage contract between marie and jacques paris. they married on august 4, 1819. it is debated on whether or not they had children.

marie was known as the “widow paris”, although it’s unknown what happened to her husband. she became a hairdresser following his death, catering specifically to wealthy and white families. she began a relationship louis christophe dominic duminy de glapion, they were together until his death in 1885. there are no records she was in any more relationships after his death. there’s official documentation of seven children from this marriage, although some believe she may have had fourteen or fifteen.

sometime in the 1820s marie was known to have started a career in voodoo. she was known to have given private sessions and sell invocations, as well as magickal objects. later in life, she was known to visit church and do charitable acts, although many scholars believe laveau was a catholic her entire life. in her final years, she spent time with her family and continued her charity.

-

sources

https://www.ushistory.org/civ/3f.asp#:~:text=Egyptian%20women%20could%20have%20their,marriages%20by%20divorcing%20and%20remarrying.

https://fathom.lib.uchicago.edu/1/777777190170/

https://www.worldhistory.org/article/927/women-in-ancient-greece/

https://www.getty.edu/news/what-was-life-like-for-women-in-the-middle-ages/\

https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1345/women-in-the-middle-ages/

https://sites.udel.edu/britlitwiki/women-in-medieval-literature-and-society/

https://www.history.com/.amp/topics/womens-history/the-fight-for-womens-suffrage

https://www.history.com/news/9-things-you-may-not-know-about-marie-antoinette

https://www.britannica.com/topic/woman-suffrage

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marie-Antoinette-queen-of-France

https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/history-and-stories/anne-boleyn/#gs.trtum7

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Anne-Boleyn

https://louisiana-anthology.org/encyclopedia/l/whitaker--laveau.html

https://www.womenhistoryblog.com/2012/07/marie-laveau.html

[internationaldayofdemocracy]

An opportunity to review the state of democracy in the world.

The International Day of Democracy which is celebrated o September 15th provides an opportunity to review the state of democracy in the world. Democracy is as much a process as a goal, and only with the full participation of and support by the international community, national governing bodies, civil society and individuals, can the ideal of democracy be made into a reality to be enjoyed by everyone, everywhere. The values of freedom, respect for human rights and the principle of holding periodic and genuine elections by universal suffrage are essential elements of democracy. In turn, democracy provides the natural environment for the protection and effective realization of human rights. At each of the key moments that have marked contemporary history, UNESCO has supported the peaceful development of societies by contributing to the construction and consolidation of democracy, and the development of democratic institutions, especially in times of transition.

[chlorinecake]

❝ TADAIMA ❞ ✦ — 𝐎.𝐒𝐓 🍙

PAIRING: Pervy Homestay Roommate Shotaro x F. Reader

GENRE: Smut, Enemies to Fuckers, Set in Japan

SYNOPSIS: While on a 2-week trip in Japan for a cultural research project, you end up boarding with the strangest man imaginable: He’s dirt rich, unemployed, and triples as a pervert…

WARNINGS: KINKTOBER SPECIAL, swearing, mentions of EJ from &TEAM, voyeurism kink, mutual masturbation, shotaro gets drunk at a restaurant once, use of sex toys (a vibrating dildo), handjob, clit play, kissing, switch!taro x switch!reader, minor use of the japanese language (sorry if its cringe or inaccurate lol)

WORD COUNT: 7.5k (I still don't know how that happened) — DAY 3

COLLEGE: A JOURNEY that most folks, including yourself, viewed as a grueling scam that ironically accessorized an equally crooked work-system proceeding the four mandatory years of academic suffrage.

But at the end of the day, every scam succeeded on the back of fraud, and if you were gonna get something worthwhile from your college experience, that is, beyond just a fancy diploma to hang on a wall, you’d have to adapt the same dirty playbook...

Skipping over some boring ass details here, but you decided to become a cultural studies major at your university for the sole benefit of being able to jet off around the globe once every autumn for free, and it was honestly the best.

Taking free trips so long as you tackle some pointless academic assignment almost felt like cheating... or better yet, like living life on easy mode...

Your current voyage was set to explore a place in Asia, specifically the humble city of Tokyo, Japan.

You’d be traveling alone for 2 weeks alongside a homestay family that your academic advisor arranged for you to stay with.

Brimming with excitement, you remember promptly leaving the airport with your bags secured and a camera in hand, eager to begin your overseas adventure in a foreign land!

Unfortunately though, your enthusiasm quickly waned the moment you arrived at your homestay host's doorstep, which brings me to introduce your internal eyeroll as provoked by the one and only Shotaro Osaki, a.k.a. the menacing man in his early twenties that you'd be sharing a home with until you returned back home 14 days later...

TIMESTAMP: 1日目

“Not to sound rude or anything, but I was expecting a host family...” you specified at the front door while kicking off your shoes, shocked to only find two young men occupying the large home.

“And that’s exactly what we are, silly!... Me, plus my friend Shotaro here, plus you equalsss... well, one big happy family!” Euijoo Byeon, the taller and younger of the two, chirped reassuringly, but his efforts still didn't aid your confusion.

“Correction: "Host family" is just a mainstream term, and doesn't strictly refer to full families only... kinda like in this case where I'm the actual homeowner and EJ's just a friendly freeloader,” Shotaro clarified, but you found yourself focusing on his facial features more than any of the words that came out of his mouth so far...

His pearly doe-eyes, button nose, heart-shaped lips, thick hair, and even his angular jawline... it all garnered your attention—

“Heyyy, I'm not a freeloader!” Euijoo defended himself with a forced pout, “I contribute around here pretty often with the homestay students, in case you forgot...”

“Please, you already know that everyone who steps foot under my roof is obligated to serve me in one way or another... including you, ____-chan.”

He smiled as he said those words, looking you dead in the eye with his hands in his pockets.

“Excuse me?” You asked in utter shock at his bold statement.

“Oh, c'mon... acts of service are my love language... that is... right after physical touch...” Shotaro said with a deep sigh, right before taking a few lazy steps until there was no more than a gentle push separating you two.

A brief silence filled the room until EJ helped himself to moving your suitcases from the front door, and off to another room as the sudden business reminded Shotaro to stay on track with you.

“Follow me as I take you on a brief tour of the house, please...”

His home was adorned with beautiful Japanese calligraphy paintings, elegant Shoji screens, and a stunning view of cherry blossoms in the living room. The scent of green tea roamed the halls, but the room you’d be staying in had its own scent… similar to that of cardboard… and grass...

It was like its own little secluded hideaway from the rest of the home, and you felt honored to have such a nice space all to yourself.

“I recently added this extra room to the place after my last homestay student trashed the first space… that’s why it still smells a little… earthy in here,” Shotaro said as if he'd just read your mind.

“Oh, I don’t mind the scent at all!” You replied, hoping that your gratitude was evident. “I really appreciate you even giving me this room...” your voice trailed off, but only because you noticed that Euijoo had helped himself to fully UNLOAD your luggage items now...

“Euijoo-san, thank you for carrying all of this for me, but I can take care of my belongings myself from here,” you said in the most patient tone you could muster.

“Oh, that's nonsense…” he responded with a swatting hand, “you just got off an exhausting plane ride and deserve a break... Besides, it's a joy for me to help homestay students, anyway...”

“Euijoo-san, seriously, I’ve got it,” you said more casually this time, and in a failed effort to hide the anxiety and frustration growing within you.

The tension was almost unbearable for you in this moment—

“You’ve got some pretty nice clothes, by the way, ____-chan,” the young man went on, flipping through your clothes as if they were pages in a comic book.

“T-thank you,” you said shyly, really feeling your face burn up as he slowly started to put your items into the bedroom dresser one by one.

And his hands were so meticulous, too... carefully refolding any pieces that got jumbled up on the way here... you'd otherwise be exceedingly grateful for Euijoo's help if it weren't for the eight-inch secret you were hiding in one of your suitcase compartments—

“Wait, what’s this?” Shotaro asked with raised brows, his otter-like features causing a pit to form in your stomach as he reached over EJ’s shoulder, grabbing the cylindrically wrapped up scarf from your exposed luggage.

Similarly to Euijoo's movements, Shotaro's hands began to slowly unwrap the item, and at this point, you couldn't hold yourself back anymore.

“Shotaro-san, don’t touch that please!” You yelped, snatching the cloth from his hand as both confused and intrigued faces surrounded you now.

Shotaro, being the menace that he was, shook his head in response, almost as if judging you for reading in such a way,,, “You know what they say about secrets, ____-chan… it’s only a matter of time before they come to light…”

His voice held a cheeky undertone that made you internally wanna kick him in his gonads, but instead, those instincts were cut off by a faint buzzing sound.

It was coming from behind the cloth you held securely in your hands, and perhaps almost too securely given how you’d just accidentally triggered the ON-button on the damned thing...

“Is that a..?” Euijoo began to ask with his own puppy-like eyes rounding innocently, but Shotaro nudged his friend's leg.

“Can you go check the mailbox? I think the package I order just arrived a few minutes ago…”

“But the mailbox is so far from here... plus, you don’t even order stuff online these days—”

“Euijoo, do as I say…” Shotaro said more sternly this time, and EJ simply chuckled awkwardly before bowing his head slightly to display apology,

“Sorry, Oniisan,” he smiled facetiously, right before standing up from where he sat and stammering out of the room.

Shotaro waited until he heard Euijoo open and close the front door of the house before saying anything else to you, which only led to you saying something first.

“NOW do you see why I said I could handle my own belongings?” You asked rhetorically, just as you turned off the toy by pressing the OFF-button through the fabric, ceasing the vibration sound that once filled the entire room.

“Yup... I see it crystal clear,” Shotaro smirked to himself before continuing, “I’ll give you your space though after you let me see what you're hiding first… promise...”

And with that, you had more than enough verbal evidence from Shotaro to confirm that he was a raging pervert...

“You... you wanna see my toy?” You asked again despite how obvious the answer was, but only because you were in utter disbelief of his shameless offer.

“Yes,” he clarified with a plain expression, poking his lips out slightly, “and then I’ll leave you alone right after I get what I want... It’s a simple condition, really…”

You flashed him a dead-pan look to which he simply shrugged, right before leaning down to dig inside your suitcase once again.

“Alright, let’s seeee… what other surprises do you have in here?… ooo, I think I feel something—”

“Okay, enough!” You said in a raised tone, making the strange man smile for reasons you didn't understand, “I’ll let you see it, okay? Just... get your hands outta there immediately!”

“No problem, missy...” he practically whispered, standing up from the ground with a proud look plastered across his now irritating face, making you feel all the more embarrassed...

Still, there was something about the awkwardness that made you feel hot all over, and you were hoping it was just because there wasn't a ceiling fan in the room..

With slow movements and a deeply exasperated exhale, you finally pulling back the cloth encasing the item, just enough for him to get a fair peak.

And to your surprise, you almost hurled with his eyes sparkling with yet another glint of excitement...

“So... you’re a dildo kinda girl, huh? A vibrating one must've been pretty pricey, though... how’d you even get past security with this thing?”

“Luck, I guess…” you muttered awkwardly, right before abruptly swatting his hand away as he reached to pull back more fabric. “Hey! You look with your eyes, mister, not your hands…”

“My apologies,” he chuckled once again, both at your words and the way your palms felt a bit clammy when you touched him...

He couldn't help himself from having dirty thoughts about you, either... your nervousness from simply showing him your sex toy was just too adorable to ignore… he wondered how nervous you’d get if you ever let him use it on you one day—

“Shotaro-san, you can leave now,” you said plainly, reminding him of his part of the deal as he clearly got lost in his thoughts on the accident...

“Okay okay, I’m going…” he said, stepping over a few clothing pieces that EJ had left scattered across the room floor while making his way to the door.

“Oh, and I thought I should mention, there’s a convenience store a few blocks from here that sells sex toys, too… specifically from the more portable variety, though…”

SHOTARO WAS QUICK to establish a list of “house rules” for you to abide by the very next day of your stay.

Needless to add, but yes, you were a stranger in his home, so of course you expected him to set boundaries for you to follow, and you respected that for the most part… or at least, that was until his proposals started to get a bit over-the-top for your taste...

TIMESTAMP: 2日目

“Anyways, curfew is 8 p.m.,” Shotaro stated while leaning against a wall in his kitchen, arms crossed over his chest as if the pose would make you take him more—

“Seriously?” You asked in utter shock, though, as per usual, he obviously wasn’t joking.

“Yes, seriously… and if any instances arise where you find yourself struggling to comply with the set curfew, you will promptly be asked to turn over your spare key privileges…”

Euijoo was once again stuck in the middle of all of this, awkwardly sipping from a bowl of soup as the tension between you grew so thick, he could cut it with a knife.

“Fine,” you shrugged, already having had enough of going back in forth with him, as this wasn’t even the first disagreement y’all had had that morning…

TIMESTAMP: 3日目

The days were flying by fast, and you hadn’t even put a dent in your list of activity plans for the trip.

You couldn’t exactly put a finger on where all your time was going, but you knew you had to get out of the house soon so you could take some photos and write about your experiences for the project.

In the meantime, you simply decided to push out a few words about your homestay living experience so far, just as Shotaro, of all people, took his daily stroll through the living room, wearing nothing but a body towel that lazily sat around his waist.

It was evident that he’d just gotten out of the shower, too, especially with the way his bare feet were tracking water all over the house.

What made the whole thing even more annoying though is that you could hardly keep your eyes off of his bloody abs—

“Sorry if I’m distracting you, ____-chan,” he said in a muffled voice, standing a few feet away from you now as he made his way into the laundry room before letting the towel around his waist drop to the floor with a heavy thud, “I’ll be outta your hair in a minute…”

You almost gasped out loud at the sight of him in his squeaky clean birthday suit, lifting your laptop high enough to cover your eyes… anddd to cover your clearly flustered face, too.

“Y-yea, no worries,” you replied with a tinge of discomfort in your voice as the tiny grunts left his lips echoed off of the walls, and you assumed it was because he was doing a heavy load of laundry, “take your time…”

SHOTARO WAS SUCH a shameless weirdo, and that’s a heavy statement coming from someone like you…

Admittedly, you’ve met your fair share of odd people in the past, but never someone like this… never a person who was so strict to their own rules, but completely ignorant of other people's boundaries…

And to top it all off, he went as far as to task you with mopping the floor up after his promiscuous little water mess, dubbing it your “reasonable service” to assist him as a guest under his roof…

TIMESTAMP: 4日目

Knock, knock, knock.

With loud pounds, Shotaro’s balled fist clashed from behind your sliding bedroom door.

“____-chan? It’s almost 9:00am, aren’t you awake yet?”

“Uh… y-yea, just give me a sec!” You called out, only having gotten up about five minutes ago to brush your teeth and change out of your pajamas.

“I’m sorry? I can’t hear you very well…”

“I said just give me a sec, sir, I’m almost done!”

“Okay, I’m coming in—”

“Shotaro-san, no!” Your voice blared from where you stood, but it was already too late… Shotaro was slowly sliding the door open, and a pang of embarrassment overcame you for a plethora of reasons…

(1) Your bed was unmade, (2) the floor was decorated with stuff that should’ve been neatly tucked away in either your drawer, closet, or suitcase by now, and (3) you were only wearing pants at this point, having to cover your bare chest with your forearms to hopefully avoid flashing him.

“Did you run out of clean bras to wear or something?” Is the first thing he asks you, and you internally face-palmed yourself.

“W-what? No, I’m just gonna wear this one again, it’s fine—”

“Nonsense,” he interrupted you, “I’ll start a fresh load of laundry for you right away…”

“Shotaro-san, I sincerely appreciate your kindness, but I don’t mind bringing my clothes to the laundromat down the street…” you clarified as he had his back turned to you, and you took this as an opportunity to throw on a baggy T-shirt real quick.

“Look, I’m unemployed for the season, so helping with house chores is the least I can do to stay busy…” he replied, making you roll your eyes in memory of the stunt he pulled yesterday, “oh, and are your tits still hanging out or can I turn around now?”

“Oh- right… yea, you’re all good,” you stammered as he turned around to see your face as he spoke, and you helped him by picking up some of your clothes from off the ground, too.

“But uh… I also wanted to apologize for disrespecting your home recently, sir… I’m not usually this disorganized, though… I guess I’ve just been a little tired…”

“Oh, I can tell…” he replies in a voice that makes you quirk a brow at him.

“Wait… you can?”

“Sure,” he shrugged, “your face looks bloated, your eyes are all puffy, and you walk around as if you’re six months pregnant… it’s honestly pretty depressing to witness…”

“Oh…” is all you managed to say.

Usually, you’d be a bit offended if someone said you looked tired, but from Shotaro’s perspective, it seemed like he expressed those thoughts out of concern.

“Y’know, the best part about not having a demanding job or being in college is that you have more time to take care of yourself… both outside and within…”

“Okay?” You replied redundantly, not sure on where he was going with his “Shotaro Wisdom.”

“I just think that you need a traditionally cooked Japanese meal to soothe your jet-lagged bones... it’ll be my treat…”

“Shotaro-san, my diet is just fine… and I get that you’re concerned, but you really don’t have to do all of that for me…”

“Well I insist... You spend all day and night either bound to your bed or roaming my kitchen, anyways, and that’s no way to fully experience the beauty of this city. You’ve gotta be more adventurous, ____-chan… otherwise, what’re you gonna write about in your cultural project, huh? Your adorable homestay host? My cherry blossom garden?”

Slam.

He dropped the dirty clothes basket on the hard wooden floor, and you’re just now realizing that you’d followed him all the way from your bedroom and into the infamous washing room.

Though, Shotaro in all his oddness was right about you… about you not being adventurous enough on this once in a lifetime opportunity to travel… and you know it was only out of shyness that you’d been hermiting for the past few days, but you really did need to get out more if you wanted any chance at writing a good paper—

“Can you pass me the detergent from up there please?”

“Sure,” you chirped, standing up on your tippy toes to reach the top shelf, and Shotaro couldn’t help but smile at the sight.

“Thanks, pretty,” he said, and you fight with a bull’s strength to not make a face at the random pet name.

“N-no problem,” you finally replied, resting your hands at your hips as you watched him load the washing machine.

“So, what color are you wearing later?” He asked, and the question reminds you of his offer to take you out to eat.

“Ugh, I’ll let you know when I decide, but right now I’m thinking something either black or grey… what made you ask?”

“Because I wanna match with you,” he responded shamelessly, “That way, if we cross paths with any weirdos while we’re out, they won’t approach us because they’ll assume I’m your boyfriend...”

“Righttt…” you went on, thinking to yourself how weird these people must be if even HE’S calling them weird… “anything else you wanna say before I go and get dressed though?”

“Yes, actually... try to be ready by 14:00 p.m… my favorite chef’s on duty during mid-evening’s and you must try his dumpling soup recipe!…”

A few hours later, you found yourself on a tour of Tokyo beside Shotaro, taking photos of local shrines, indulging in delicious street food, and just simply enjoying the aura of the vibrant city together.

And as on par with his plans, you and Shotaro arrived at the traditional Japanese restaurant just in time to be served by his favorite chef.

Though, it's not like effort went very far once Shotaro got to drinking, which left you thoroughly entertained by his tipsy charisma.

“Heyy, these chopsticks are almost as big as your dildo back home,” Shotaro giggled while eating beside you, cheeks a flushed hue from the warmth radiating throughout his entire body...

I wonder how useful he’d be in this state if any alleged weirdo's approached us later on, you thought to yourself...

“Mhm… looks about seven inches to me,” you responded plainly, right before stuffing your mouth full with another flavorful soup dumpling.

“Wanna see how many I can stuff inside you before it doesn’t fit?” He went on to ask, eyes widening as if he just suggested something totally normal.

“Maybe another time,” you smiled half-heartedly, patting him gently on his head, “when you’re less drunk on… well, whatever the name of that drink you just had was…”

“It’s called shōchū, ____… say it with me!” He chirped with a raised hand to the sky.

“Shōchū,” you repeated again with him, a small smile creeping up your face.

“Yikes, your pronunciation needs a little work…”

“My apologies, Taro… I’ll make sure I work on that for you…”

“Aww… you’re giving me a nickname?” He pouted, leaning his head on you. “I had a dream about you the other night and you called me that same name… it was pretty explicit, though…”

“You can tell me about it later…”

“Okay… what do you think of the food?”

“It’s really tasty, actually. Thanks for taking me out, I really needed this…”

“You’re welcome… thanks for letting me lean on you, too… most people push me away when I do that…”

“And by most people, you mean Euijoo-san, right?”

“Yes… he claims to dislike touch with his words, but he genuinely loves it… I remember one time we went clubbing together, and a really hot girl kept trying to dance on him… he awkwardly pushed her away, but he couldn’t stop thinking about it once we got home…”

“Interesting… do you always overshare like this when you’re drunk?”

“Not like I’d remember anyways,” he shrugged, “can you tell me a secret about something, though? To even out the playing field?”

“Huh…. This isn’t really a secret, but I rarely admit this… I have a tendency to judge people before getting to know them…”

He was quiet at first, stirring the foggy broth in his bowl with a chopstick before asking quietly, “Like you judged me?”

“Yes, like I judged you… you seemed… I don’t know… weird at first? And a bit overbearing, too…”

“All those things are true though,” he giggled.

“Sure, but… never mind, you’re right… I still think you’re weird…”

“Oh yeah? Just wait til I tell you about—”

“Later, Taro… I’d love to hear all about it then…”

TIMESTAMP: 8日目

You and Shotaro developed a quirky friendship with each other, and it was quite refreshing in contrast to your initially rocky start with him.

He was a pervert. You caught onto the way his eyes watched you through the cracks of doors, or fell to glance between your legs every time the chance was made available. Always caught him going through your things under the excuse that “if it’s under my roof, it’s under my control.”

So, you made clear to him a few of your own boundaries, and luckily, he agreed to respect them… for the most part…

The rules followed a simple list…

1. “No more sneaking and spying on me.”

2. “No more going through my things.”

3. “No more walking around naked when I’m around.”

4. “No more weird questions about my sex life.”

In the last four days, he followed you to the bathroom three times, asked about your sex toy twice, and walked around the house half-naked only once… you’d say that was a good sign of improvement, honestly…

You kept yourself busy by annotating every relevant detail and observation from your time in Japan this far, and you were slowly starting to gain reassurance in your abilities to produce an excellent cultural project in time for the deadline.

TIMESTAMP: 12日目

One evening, after yet another day full of laughter and cultural escapades alongside Shotaro, you and him found yourselves lounging on the tatami mats in his living room, enjoying a bowl of miso soup, stewed meat, and some of Shotaro’s homemade onigiri.

Earlier that day, you and him were busy cooking in the kitchen together, where he even shared with you a few of his not-so secret secret Osaki family recipes.

He took the honors of playing photographer for you though as you offered to tuck the seaweed wraps around the triangular mounds of sticky rice.

“Look at you, you’re a natural at this, pretty,” Shotaro complimented you while snapping a few more pictures, and you shook your head at the comical tone of his voice, “now all there’s left to work on is pronouncing ‘onigiri’ properly!”

“Ha ha, you’re so hilarious,” you replied sarcastically, making him chuckle slightly at his own sense of humor, or perhaps, the lack thereof.

There was one moment in particular though that really got your heart racing between him… it was when he scooted himself behind you as you stirred the bubbling pot of miso soup, guiding your wrist with his delicate hand.

“You have to stir carefully from the bottom ____-chan, or else you’ll break up the chunks of tofu we just neatly cut up,” Shotaro whispered from above you, given the height difference, and you’ve never heard his voice sound so calm til now.

He let you lead your own hand for a bit just to check that you had the stirring motion down on your own, and he smiled softly once you did it correctly.

“Like this?” You asked, feeling a lot more nervous than expected while he was so close to you, despite how the other night at the restaurant and bar you found it much less nervous inducing when Shotaro kept leaning his head all over you.

“Mhm… just like that,” he hummed, right before his warmth left you as he walked away to return back to cutting up the stew meat…

Since that moment, the air was filled with an electric tension that neither of you had acknowledged yet as the sun began to set, casting its warm glow through the shoji screens.

In the middle of Shotaro telling you a story about his childhood though, the jingle of keys sounded at the front door as EJ invited himself to join you two once his shift at the local bakery ended.

“I come bearing treats!” He smiled vibrantly, right after bowing his head slightly to show his respects.

“Euijoo-san, how nice of you to join us,” Shotaro said in a corny accent, “how was work?”

“Exhausting… especially because I lost track of time and missed my lunch break…”

“Awww, bummer,” you pouted, “I’ll fix you a plate while you wash up then…”

“Ahhh, thanks a billion, ____-chan… since my own best bro doesn’t seem to care about me anymore,” the young man sulked playfully, and Shotaro widened his eyes in confused offense.

“What d’you mean I don’t care about you? I literally made you onigiri with my bare freaking hands, you ungrateful fart—”

“Acts of service may be YOUR love language, but it isn’t mine,” EJ reminded his friend before dramatically crossing his arms and walking out of the room, “remember that the next time you insult me, Shotaro-san… hmph…”

A few more minutes passed before the third member of your uncanny trio settled down to eat with you guys, provoking you to take a deep breath, summoning courage within yourself.

“Euijoo-san, Shotaro-san… you both have truly made my time in Tokyo one to remember,” you began, watching them shyly nod as your words touched the tenderness of their hearts.

“But,” you went on, voice catching slightly as you tried to keep their attention, “my time with you all is dwindling, and by that, I mean tomorrow is my last day here…”

You watched as the expressions on their faces shifted from joyful camaraderie to sudden surprise, and you couldn’t shake the guilt ones bulding up inside you now.

They had made the Japanese lifestyle seem so inviting for you that just acknowledging that you’d be departing soon hurt…

“No way, it’s been two weeks already?” Euijoo exclaimed with shock, his chopsticks paused mid-air. “Can’t your school let you stay a little longer? I’m sure Shotaro doesn’t mind opening his house to you for an extension…”

“I really wish I could take that offer, Euijoo-san,” you replied, offering a soft smile to hopefully ease his emotions, “I just have to get back for school… plus, changing my flight dates so late wouldn’t be a wise move on my part…”

Shotaro looked down for a moment, a flicker of disappointment crossing his sullen, otter-like features. “It’s been so nice having you around here,” he said quietly, his tone laced with something that you couldn’t quite decipher, but you knew it was different from his usual chipper.

After dinner, the three of you tried to shift the energy by sharing a few more stories and cleaning up the kitchen together, your harmonious laughter echoing beneath the dim house lighting.

Excusing yourself, you eventually retreated to your bedroom after everything was tidied up, but your mind remained a swirling sea of freshly acquired memories of the past few days.

You were gonna take a walk to clear your head and sight-see for what might be your last chance, but your plans were cut short once you realized it was past your curfew, the clock reading 8:00pm on the dot, and you respected Taro too much now to disregard his rules…

Sighing, you closed the door to your room, the world outside faded away, leaving you only to your thoughts and the slightly improved clutter of personal items that you’d worry about packing up tomorrow morning.

You were too emotionally drained to do anything in this moment, other than something to take the edge off… and quickly…

Across the hall, Shotaro sat in the living room, wishing he could shake off the heaviness in his chest. He had grown so fond of you over the last days, your laughter, your genuine curiosity about everything around you and your interest in his culture... The sound of the sliding door to your bedroom clicking shut reached his ears.

“No more sneaking around and spying on me,” your voice faintly resounded from a few days ago in the back of his mind, but a certain impulse washed over him, and he couldn’t help but draw himself to your room, once step at a time.

And it came to no surprise that the clicking sound he heard wasn’t even from the door, but better yet, your suitcase latch after your brief search for the infamous cylinder wrapped in cloth.

You still hadn’t learned how to properly lock the doors behind yourself again, which is why you set that no peeking rule down in the first place… you knew secrets enticed Shotaro, but in this moment, you just focused on taking care of yourself… just like Shotaro said, both outside and within…

Kneeling down, Shotaro edged himself towards the door, where a slender crack allowed him a stingy look inside.

The soft glow of your dresser lamp illuminated the room, casting gentle shadows along your bedsheets and your now half-naked body.

You wore nothing but a baggy T-shirt and panties as you got positioned into your back, legs spread just enough for Shotaro to see everything… your graceful and seren silhouette, and your pulsating core… it all caught his attention, and it all made him all the more aroused…

Luckily for the both of you, EJ had locked himself up in his room to wash off his long day of work, and the sound of the water running faintly in the background acted as a timer for you to finish by.

You began to slid your panties down your hips, each motion fluid and unhurried as Shotaro's poor little heart raced, quickening the pace of his breath.

Slowly caressing over your skin with one hand, you reached for the dildo with the other, and unbeknownst to you, Shotaro was just a few feet away from you, untying his pants as his semi-hard dick sprung out, almost hitting the door.

You just hoped that Shotaro had busied himself somewhere in the house so he wouldn’t find you like this… though, once the head of the toy circled your clit before you slowly lined the head up with your entrance, your mind couldn’t shake the thought of him…

The thought of how he’d feel inside you, or the thought of his hands pinning yours over your head and to the mattress…

Finally inserting the toy all the way, you felt your breath hitch as you started sliding the dildo in and out of your cunt, already coating it in your slimy juices.

The room was silent except for the sound of your own soft gasps bouncing off the walls. Shotaro licked a stripe of spit up his hand before cupping the base of his cock with his palm, already too caught up in the private world of his thoughts to care about how perverted of him this was.

The way he stroked himself mirrored the pace that you set for the dildo as you kept fucking yourself, circling your hips against the mattress as you somehow widened your legs even more.

And by now, Shotaro was in visual heaven, despite the fact that he hated how slow you were going with it… he hated that he couldn’t make himself go any faster until you did.

“Nghh~” a needy mewl ripped from under your breath, and Shotaro felt himself shiver at the way you lifted your hips into the toy now, gripping at your tit with your free hand.

Words can’t begin to describe how badly he wished he could cup your breasts in his hands…

Your hole was impressively taking all of the toy’s girth, but from the looks of it, your pussy was still suffocating around it, being stuffed to the brim as your walls quivered in ecstasy.

So that’s how she likes to be fucked, Shotaro thought to himself, and your lips ironically started to cry out yes as he kept his grip firm around his shaft.

A stream of your own arousal dripped unto the sheets, coating the dildo and your pussy lips in a delicious shine, and Shotaro swore he would’ve sold his soul just to get a taste—

“Shit,” he swore, a free hand flying to cover his mouth as he can barely keep his sounds in now.

You picked up the pace, and he pumped his cock even faster, knowing better than anyone that his rough fingers didn’t feel half as good as your pussy probably does.

He watched the way your tightness gripped at the dildo every time it hit that special spot inside you, and at this point, you were too turned on to pretend like you don’t hear him.

When he had cursed, you noticed his boba eyes peeking at you, and although your first instinct was to shut your legs and scold him, you let the moment take its course…

“Taro,” you said in a seductive voice… one that comes out naturally because of the state you’re in, “you’ve never been very sneaky, y’know that?”

His round eyes nearly popped out of his head at your offer, and he was torn between whether he should pretend like this never happened or just adhere to your lust-laced words.

“Q-quit being shy, Taro,” you whined out again, stammering over your own words as the dildo started to vibrate, “just get in here before I- fuck... ch-change my mind...”

Shotaro could hardly believe his own ears once you announced your scandalous invitation to him, and doesn't think he's ever put his dick away so quickly, either...

Carefully sliding the door open, he slipped through the narrow gap he provided for himself before locking the door back behind him and joining you on the bed.

You were definitely feeling a little less bold now that he was barely a few inches away from you, but the ways his eyes flickered between glancing at your face and then your sloppy cunt motivated you somehow—

“Want some help with that?” He offers quietly, and you respond by slipping the thick toy from your hole, a wet pop filling the room as you lazily held it towards him.

And although his face still appears like a cross between shocked and dumbfounded, his body posture is confident as he takes the toy from your grasp, caressing your exposed thigh just to see you shiver.

He give you one more glance for approval as if your consent wasn't already obvious enough before sliding the tip of the toy between your slick folds, but he's applying a lot more pressure than you did when handling it... not that you had a problem with it anyways...

“You're so sensitive,” he chuckled slightly, watching the way your torso clenched as he pressed the dildo against your entrance, and you're suddenly feeling shy yourself now-- “And pretty,” he continued, complimenting the view of your beautiful bare body before him, the purest look of lust upon both your faces, “so, so pretty...”

A soft moan escaped your mouth as he pushed the toy all the way inside you now, and his method of pumping you felt way better than what you usually did for yourself.

“T-Taro,” you whined, watching as he continued to fuck your cunt open with the dildo, fully focused on pleasing you... he was so fascinated by the way your walls clenched around the silicone, lewd noises filling the room as you grew even hazier in your head.

“What is it, ____?” His voice came out deeply as his gaze barely met yours from behind his neatly cut bangs, his cold hand pressing firmly on the bulge in your stomach, as created by the long toy inside you.

“T-touch yourself,” you whimpered, reaching down to grab his wrist as the pressure he applied became too much for you to speak over, “while you keep touching me...”

That's all it took for him to slowly get to work on shimmying down his pants again, and single-handedly at that. The tip of his cock was sore with a throbbing need as he took his shaft in his free palm, stroking it to the same pace that he set for the dildo inside you.

And his moans were joining yours now, his starved out teeth biting at his lower lip as he continued gliding the toy in and out of your pussy, making your eyebrows furrow at the sight before you.

You imagined that the dildo was his cock as you threw your head back against the pillows, closing your eyes while he did the same by imaging you were responding this way from taking his cock, fucking the pathetic silicone into you just like his hips would.

And as badly as the intrusive thoughts were telling him to toss the toy and just fuck you properly himself, he knew there was a better way to help you get past the sexual frustration of not coming... and he didn’t want to pressure you into doing something you weren’t completely down for…

“Play with your clit for me, baby,” Shotaro slurred while speeding up the movements of his hand pumping his length, and you adhered to his words immediately, sliding your hand down to rub at your sensitive spot just like he told you to.

“That's it baby,” he sighed, chest heaving as he felt himself reaching the point of no return, “you're close, aren't you pretty?”

“S-so close,” you winced desperately, and it only takes a few more thrusts of his hand and circles of your own finger before you were falling over the edge, covering your mouth with the back of your hand to keep your moans in.

And your eyes are pricking with tears given how good the stimulation felt, but you knew Shotaro hadn’t reached his climax yet.

With the little energy you had meddling within your system, you sat up to meet him where he sat, the dildo still jammed inside your pussy as you pulled his face to kiss you, and the contact was hungry… Shotaro’s own mouth gaping open to groan as you kept your grip tight around his neck while looking deeply into his eyes.

He was a panting mess now, and you wanted to help him feel just as good as he had made you feel.

“____, you don’t have to—”

“Shhh,” you interrupted his choked out sentence, kissing him once again as you moved your hand to take the place his around his shaft, “let me return the favor, baby…”

Although a bit delayed, Shotaro eventually nodded in compliance, resting one of his free hands behind him to brace his weight on the bed and his other free hand at you ass where he spanked you slightly.

“B-bounce on it,” his voice came out, and a bit strained in tone as he spanked you a little harder this time, reeling a soft whine out of you, “p-please baby, ride that dildo while you jerk my co— holy fuckk…”

You were still so sensitive in this moment, so the overstimulation was insane once you started grinding against the toy, lifting your hips to ride it as he watched with lust-ridden eyes.

And your delicate hands were doing such a good job of pumping him, too, stroking his length at just the right pace while paying extra attention to the head of his cock, the part that you knew would make him feel the best.

“God, you’re so fucking good at that, pretty,” he praised, and you kissed him instead of saying anything, bouncing so hard now that even the bed is starting to squeak beneath you two.

And the sound made Shotaro smirk… the sound of your juices squelching around the toy… of your heart beating fast behind your chest… the gentle meals escaping you, and the sound of your hand stroking him to heaven—

“Fuck!” He suddenly cried out, as quietly as he could as to not alarm EJ, and that’s when you knew he had finally reached his climax.

Breaking from his lips, you reached behind yourself to grab the scarf you used to wrap up the toy and held it over the top of his cock, just in time for his pearly spurts of his release to fill up the cloth.

Your warm hand slowly pumped the girth of his shaft, continuing to milk him dry as his hand gripped your hips tightly at the feeling, and you’re certain you’d have a bruise there later from his force.

And there is was again… Shotaro’s infamous smile as he sighed beneath his breath, releasing his grip on your hip while looking into your eyes now.

“Sorry I messed up your scarf,” he said plainly, and you can’t help but smile at his remark.

“Eh, it’s alright,” you returned, taking the bundle of fabric from his cock and holding it in your hand, “you’re in charge of laundry duty, anyways…”

Both of your cheeks were as warm as fresh baked milk bread now as you awkwardly lifted your hips off the dildo, the slimy object falling from your hole with a gentle pop as you took the cum rag and wrapped the toy in it, too.

“So…,” he began, voice returning to its usual pitch as you helped shimmy his pants back up, “do you always cum that hard, or was that orgasm special just for me?”

“Shut up,” you scorned playfully, nudging his shoulder slightly to which he chuckled alongside you.

But that’s when you both noticed it… the sound of the water running had stopped, and you’re sure it hasn’t been running for a while.

The two of you exchange worried looks as your ears keen in on the sounds behind the door, if any at all…

“Should I just…?” Shotaro started to ask while getting up from the bed, but you placed a hand at his thigh, keeping him in place.

Step, step, step.

Euijoo’s house slippers slid across the floor as he made his way to your bedroom door, the silhouette of his frame being clear as day behind the slightly opaque door, and you wonder just how much he can see from his point of view.

“Hey, is Shotaro-san in there with you?” He asked, visibly tucking his hands in his pajama pants pockets, “I heard the bed creaking, and he has a strict ‘NO-SEX IN THE HOUSE’ policy…”

“Yes, he’s in here—”

“We weren’t having sex.”

You and Shotaro’s of your voices came out at the same time, and by this point, EJ is really confused, even though both of your sentences were 100% the honest truth.

“Right,” is all the poor boy says before turning on his heel and walking in the opposite direction, “just make sure you end your little sleepover in time for me to get my work clothes washed by tomorrow morning…”

⋆♱✮ Thank you to everyone reading this fic of mine, which actually concludes DAY 3 of my Kinktober Event !! Also, if you're interested in reading more works like this, feel free to check out my main enhypen masterlist or my kinktober masterlist by clicking one of these links !!

⋆♱✮ PERMANANT TAGLIST:

@squoxle, @nishiimuranights, @ashgonedash

@yourmomscuntis2tighy, @wonbinisbabygurl

@watamotee33, @addictedtohobi, @ot7sevenlvr

⋆♱✮ KINKTOBER TAGLIST:

@pasteltheghost16 @fawnpeaks @melonvrs

@mheretoreadff @skzfelixlove @inishij

@yaorzu-blog @andromedawillburyyou @ramyeonzprincess

@zaihypen @simjaeyunns @gardenwonnies @hynier

@idontknowhowtomakeusernames @enhymeowz @minhosimthings @stormy1408

@crownj1min @jay-0n3s @gacktsa @leeknowinggg

[srbachchan]

DAY 5974

Jalsa, Mumbai June 26/27, 2024 Wed/Thu 12:56 am

🪔 ,

June 27 .. birthday wishes to : Ef Ravi Patel .. Ef Diyansh Kumbhat from Chennai .. and .. Ef Ayush Mishra from Bilaspur .. 🙏🏻❤️🚩

💍 .. wedding anniversary greeting to : Ef Rajesh Kejriwal from Kolkata .. completing 35 years of togetherness .. on June 26 .. our wishes and more .. 💐🙏🏻❤️🚩

..

Birthday - EF - Ravi Patel Thursday, 27 June our wishes for this day and the best ever .. love ❤️

Resistance .. its many forms and values and dimensions and usage .. so it became urgently important to apprise the self of it from sources ..

"Resistance is a multifaceted concept, encompassing physical, psychological, social, and political dimensions. Its definition and application can vary significantly depending on the context in which it is considered. At its core, resistance involves the act of opposing, withstanding, or striving against some force or condition. This broad definition can be applied to various fields, including physics, medicine, psychology, and social movements.

In physics, resistance is a measure of the opposition to the flow of electric current in a conductor. It is quantified by the unit ohm and symbolized by the Greek letter omega (Ω). The resistance of a conductor depends on its material, length, cross-sectional area, and temperature. For instance, materials like copper and aluminum have low resistance and are therefore good conductors, whereas materials like rubber and glass have high resistance and are good insulators. Ohm's Law, a fundamental principle in electrical engineering, states that the current flowing through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to the voltage across the two points and inversely proportional to the resistance. This relationship is crucial in designing electrical circuits and understanding their behavior.

In medicine, resistance often refers to the ability of microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses, to withstand the effects of drugs that are intended to kill or weaken them. Antibiotic resistance is a significant public health concern, as it makes infections harder to treat, leading to longer hospital stays, higher medical costs, and increased mortality. Resistance can develop through various mechanisms, such as genetic mutations or the acquisition of resistance genes from other bacteria. The overuse and misuse of antibiotics in humans and animals accelerate this process, making it imperative to use these medications judiciously and to develop new treatments.

Psychologically, resistance can manifest as a reluctance or refusal to accept certain thoughts, feelings, or behaviors. This concept is particularly relevant in therapy and counseling, where clients may resist discussing painful or traumatic experiences. This resistance can be conscious or unconscious and can hinder the therapeutic process. Understanding and addressing resistance is crucial for therapists, as it can provide insights into the client's internal conflicts and defenses. Techniques such as building a strong therapeutic alliance, using motivational interviewing, and gradually exposing clients to difficult topics can help in overcoming resistance.

In social and political contexts, resistance is often associated with efforts to oppose and challenge established power structures, policies, or social norms. Throughout history, resistance movements have played pivotal roles in advocating for social change and justice. Examples include the civil rights movement in the United States, the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa, and the women's suffrage movement. These movements often involve a combination of nonviolent protest, civil disobedience, and sometimes armed struggle. The success of these movements typically depends on various factors, including leadership, organization, public support, and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances.

In contemporary times, resistance continues to be a vital force in addressing issues such as climate change, systemic racism, and economic inequality. Activists and grassroots organizations worldwide are mobilizing to resist policies and practices that they perceive as unjust or harmful. Social media and digital communication have transformed the landscape of resistance, enabling rapid dissemination of information, coordination of actions, and amplification of marginalized voices.

Resistance, in its many forms, is an essential aspect of human experience and societal development. Whether in the realm of science, health, psychology, or social justice, resistance challenges the status quo and fosters progress. It embodies the struggle for survival, dignity, and betterment, reflecting the resilience and determination inherent in individuals and communities. As such, understanding and engaging with the concept of resistance is crucial for addressing the complex challenges of our world. "

... and at times the sources do not even address the most common of them all in the resistance ..

It be the pen and paper writing ..

When the pen has a resistance to the paper quality it is being written on the writing experience is determined as good bad or average ..

When the holding posture of the pen is conveniently comfortable to write, it produces the quality of writing exhibited ..

When the nib and flow of the ink on the pen is of desired like , the paper may be of the best resistance quality, the writing shall never be of the desired ..

paper same .. nib different , pen different .. sign same , but all different in form and appearance ..

GN 😴

Amitabh Bachchan

[folk-enjoyer]

Song of the day

(do you want the history of your favorite folk song? dm me or submit an ask, and I'll do a full rundown like here)

"Bread and Roses"

Judy Collins, 1976

since its labor day i thought we could talk about some good ol' IWW labor history

in 1911, Helen Todd gave a speech about women's suffrage and ended it

"Not at once; but woman is the mothering element in the world and her vote will go toward helping forward the time when life's Bread, which is home, shelter and security, and the Roses of life, music, education, nature and books, shall be the heritage of every child that is born in the country, in the government of which she has a voice."

James Oppenheim, inspired by this speech, created the poem "Bread and Roses" in 1911, whose words would later become the lyrics for the judy collins song.

in 1912, 30,000 immigrant textile workers in Lawrence, Massachusetts, went on strike due to poor working conditions and poor pay. this strike was led by the International Workers of the World and was comprised mostly of women. the phrase "bread and roses" was all over signs and became the slogan of the strike, with it even being called the "Bread and Roses Strike". like many strikes in the USA it was absolutely brutal for the strikers, and several people died, but they were able to win some of their demands.

in 1970, the James Oppenheim poem was put to music by mimi fariña, and then covered by judy collins. my favorite cover is by Utah Phillips in 1983 , where he explains the history of the textile strike and the meaning of the slogan

Hearts starve as well as bodies; give us bread, but give us roses 🌹

[nesyanast]

Lemlich was a Ukranian Jewish immigrant who emigrated to New York in 1903. She became a garment worker and joined the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union. She was a key leader in the Uprising of 20,000, the massive strike of New York garment workers in 1909. Blacklisted from the industry for her union work, she was active in the women’s suffrage movement. She joined was a leader of the United Council of Working Class Women. A life long activist, in her last years as a nursing home resident, Lemlich persuaded the nursing home to join in the United Farm Workers' boycotts of grapes and lettuce and helped the workers there to organize.

[usnatarchives]

March is #WomensHistoryMonth and March 8 is International Women’s Day. The National Archives is celebrating with special programs on women throughout the month.

Learn more about these programs and our extensive online Women's History Month resources.

[uwmspeccoll]

Milestone Monday

On this day, November 18, 1872, Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906) and 14 other women were arrested for voting illegally in the United States presidential election of 1872. Though all were arrested, only Anthony was indicted and brought to trial in circuit court. Susan B. Anthony was an American social reformer and advocate for women's rights, significantly contributing to the women's suffrage movement and challenging laws that restricted voting rights to men.

Susan B. Anthony's act of civil disobedience, arrest, and trial galvanized the American women’s suffrage movement. During that period, like all criminal defendants, Anthony was not allowed to testify in her own defense and had to rely on her attorneys to present her case.

The judge in the case ordered the jury to find her guilty without deliberation. She was fined $100, to which she said, “I shall never pay a dollar of your unjust penalty.”  She delivered a now-famous speech despite the judge commanding her to cease.

Even though she was found guilty, her courageous stand and ensuing trial brought greater attention to the insufficient rights of women under the U.S. Constitution. Anthony remained dedicated to advocating for women’s suffrage, delivering speeches nationwide, and working diligently until her passing. Fifty years later, the ratification of the 19th Amendment would pass, giving women the right to vote. 

Hooray for Women’s Suffrage! Also, let’s hope we don’t see this history repeat itself!!

The photos featured come from the following books in our collection:

History of Woman Suffrage edited by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Matilda Joslyn Gage and published in Rochester, N.Y. by Susan B. Anthony in 1887.

An Account of the Proceedings on the trial of Susan B. Anthony, on the Charge of Illegal Voting at the Presidential Election in Nov. 1872, and on the Trial of Beverly W. Jones, Edwin T. Marsh, and William B. Hall, the Inspectors of Election by Whom Her Vote Was Received published in Rochester, N.Y. by the Daily Democrat and Chronicle Book Print in 1874.

View more Milestone Monday posts.

-Melissa, Special Collections Graduate Intern

[grimoirey]

Pamela Colman Smith

The Woman Behind the Tarot

Pamela Colman Smith (1878–1951) was an artist, writer, and occultist whose most enduring legacy is her work illustrating the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck. Born in London, Smith grew up between Jamaica and New York, where she absorbed a mix of cultures and artistic influences that would shape her career. She was known for her vibrant personality and storytelling, often weaving Jamaican folktales into her work, notably through her Annancy Stories. Raised in a creative and international environment, she was deeply influenced by mysticism and symbolism, which played a pivotal role in her art and writing.

In the early 1900s, Smith became involved with the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a secretive occult society focused on esoteric and mystical knowledge. It was through this group that she met the mystic Arthur Edward Waite. In 1909, Waite approached Smith with a commission to illustrate a tarot deck, a project that would ultimately transform tarot's visual language. Although Waite provided her with specific occult and symbolic instructions, it was Smith’s unique artistic style—bold lines, vivid colors, and her ability to capture human emotion—that brought the deck to life.

The deck, originally known as the Rider-Waite Tarot (named after its publisher, William Rider, and Waite), was revolutionary in several ways. Unlike previous tarot decks, Smith’s designs featured fully illustrated Minor Arcana cards, not just the Major Arcana. This change made the cards more accessible and intuitive for interpretation. Her art emphasized narrative scenes, rich with symbolism, helping readers connect more easily with the meanings behind each card. Despite the importance of her contribution, Smith was paid only a flat fee for her work and received no royalties or further recognition during her lifetime.

Her designs are full of hidden symbols and esoteric references, many of which were derived from Waite’s occult instructions, but Smith also drew on her own creativity and mystical vision. Her personal monogram, featuring a snake entwined around her initials, can be seen on some of the cards, a quiet assertion of her authorship. Yet, for decades, the deck bore only Waite's name, and it was not until more recent years that Smith’s contributions were properly acknowledged. Today, the deck is referred to as the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot, reflecting her essential role in its creation.

Smith was a woman of many talents beyond the tarot. She founded The Green Sheaf, a magazine focused on women’s writing, folklore, and mysticism. She was also involved in the women’s suffrage movement, using her art to support political causes. Despite her rich artistic output and connections with prominent figures such as W.B. Yeats and John Masefield, she lived much of her later life in poverty, passing away relatively unknown. However, her tarot illustrations have since become the standard for modern tarot, ensuring her posthumous fame.

Pamela Colman Smith spent her later years living with Nora Lake, a close companion who supported her during a period of financial and creative hardship. They shared a home in the village of Bude, Cornwall, where they lived a quiet, spiritually centered life, regularly attending church. While some speculate about the nature of their relationship, whether romantic or platonic, there is no conclusive evidence. Nonetheless, Lake remained a steadfast presence in Smith's life, around 20 years, until Smith's death in 1951, helping to manage her affairs and ensuring her memory endured, even though Smith's contributions had largely been forgotten at the time.

Pamela Colman Smith’s life is a testament to the often-overlooked contributions of women artists in history. Her work on the tarot deck continues to inspire millions, making her an icon in the world of mysticism and beyond.

References:

https://gcn.ie/pamela-colman-smith-designer-tarot-deck/

https://1890s.ca/wp-content/uploads/smith_bio.pdf

https://academic.oup.com/liverpool-scholarship-online/book/42400