Notetakers
Kayla Greenstein, University of Sydney
Presenters
Chair: Catherine Carstairs, University of Guelph
Dorota Dias-Lewandowska, Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology Polish Academy of Sciences
Pam Lock, University of Bristol
Lucy Cogan, University College Dublin
Alice Mauger, University College Dublin
The panel "Women, Intoxicants, and Informal Laws: Transnational Perspectives (19th-21st centuries)" offered an exploration of the intersections of gender, substance use, and societal norms across historical and cultural contexts. The session highlighted how women’s drinking behaviors and their societal repercussions have been scrutinized and controlled, reflecting broader social norms and gender politics.
Dorota Dias-Lewandowska and Pam Lock "Respectable, Hardworking, Child-bearing, Women Don’t Drink: Unspoken Laws in Nineteenth Century Polish and British Societies"
Dias-Lewandowska and Lock delved into the representations of alcohol and female identity in nineteenth-century Poland and Britain. They discussed how women's drinking was heavily scrutinized and controlled to maintain social and familial responsibilities. Their presentation underscored the double standards in social and professional reputations, where men often escaped punishment for immoral behavior, while women were harshly judged and punished. This dynamic was evident in literature, such as the work of Anthony Trollope, where fallen men were pardoned, and fallen women were punished. The presenters highlighted that women's drinking was often rationalized as a symptom of their supposed feeble-mindedness, reinforcing a patronizing view of female bodily pleasure and denying women’s autonomy.
Lucy Cogan "Female Shebeen Keepers in Irish Literature, 1770-1890"
Cogan's presentation offered an illustrative portrait of female shebeen keepers in late 18th to mid-19th century Ireland. Shebeens, unlicensed drinking establishments, served as critical social and economic spaces, particularly for women. Women often ran these shebeens, presenting themselves as widows dependent on their communities. Cogan highlighted literary works by authors like Anthony Trollope and William Lynman, which depicted shebeen keepers as powerful, albeit shadowy, figures. These representations reflected broader views of Irish Catholic society and the complex roles women played within it, illustrating how shebeen keepers navigated and sometimes subverted the hostile legal and social systems of the time.
Alice Mauger "Drunken Irish Girls?: Representations and Accounts of Irishwomen’s Drinking in London and New York since c. 1945"
Mauger explored the shifting representations and accounts of Irishwomen’s drinking habits from the 1960s onwards. Traditionally, heavy drinking in Ireland was viewed as a male activity, but research from the US indicated that Irish women, both married and divorced, drank more than women from other ethnic groups. This shift challenged earlier theories that associated heavy drinking primarily with men and highlighted the rising number of women struggling with alcoholism. Mauger's presentation emphasized that understanding the historical and cultural contexts of Irish women’s drinking behaviors can inform public health strategies and policies aimed at addressing alcohol-related issues within specific communities.
____
The session emphasized the need to critically examine and challenge historical and contemporary narratives surrounding women's alcohol consumption. By incorporating feminist and critical theories, the presenters advocated for more inclusive and intersectional methodologies in both historical research and public policy. Understanding the nuanced roles women played in alcohol creation and abstinence offers valuable insights into their behaviors and experiences with alcohol.
Q&A
The Q&A discussion explored various facets of drinking habits and social norms across different cultures and historical periods. The conversation began with the topic of Irish drinking habits, noting the influence of stereotypes and colonial narratives on perceptions of Irish drinking. The discussion then shifted to stereotypes and social norms associated with drinking among widows and post-menopausal women. In South-East Europe, communal drinking spaces for women were highlighted, particularly in 19th-century Poland. The discussion illuminated the complex interplay between gender, social norms, and drinking practices across different cultures and historical contexts.
Personal Reflections
Dias-Lewandowska and Lock’s presentation, (despite their jet lag that we definitely empathise with!), was commendable for its depth and insight. Their work, “Between the Drunken ‘Mother of Destruction’ and the Sober ‘Angel of the House’: Hidden Representations of Women’s Drinking in Polish and British Public Discourses in the Second Half of the 19th Century,” merits further exploration.
Mauger’s study on Irish women's drinking in London and New York underscored the value of a transnational approach in understanding the cultural and societal influences on women’s drinking habits.
Both Dias-Lewandowska & Lock and Cogan employed fiction as a methodological tool to capture the emotional and social dimensions of women's experiences with alcohol, enriching their portrayal beyond traditional historical methodologies.
The deep-seated societal scrutiny and control over women's alcohol consumption in both 19th-century Europe and contemporary contexts reflect enduring gendered social norms and disparities in how male and female behavior is perceived and judged. This session highlighted the importance of acknowledging and addressing these biases to create a more inclusive and accurate historical narrative.