Women's Freedom Through Cycling
Cycling has historically been crucial in advancing women's freedom and empowerment. With the introduction of the safety bicycle in the late 19th century, women gained a means of independent transportation, allowing them to break free from traditional domestic roles.
Prominent feminists like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony recognized bicycles as symbols of self-reliance and freedom. The suffragette movement utilized cycling to organize and assert women’s presence in public, facilitating their fight for voting rights. The rise of cycling also influenced women’s fashion, leading to more practical attire like bloomers, which promoted individual expression and challenged societal norms around femininity.
- Subject Matter: Women's rights
- Collections: The Unforgiving Yardstick: a look at women's roles and struggles in Westchester County