Did you know that International Women’s Day isn’t a 21st century, social-media-land invention? It began way back in 1911– the era of our great grandmothers– amidst enormous swells in energy from literally millions of women to change things, for the better. The difference in freedom and dignity for many women around the world compared to those early days is massive, although there are still so many spheres where things seem to have barely altered at all that it can be disheartening. But every inch crept forward adds up. To tinker slightly with a suffrage slogan, Deeds And Words make a difference.
Postcard sent in 1909 by one of our great-great grandmothers, Mary “Jeanie” Hardy.
Our beginnings at TrowelBlazers came just over a century after IWD 1911, in March 2013. We’ve grown into something far bigger than we ever imagined, evolving from humble tumblr beginnings–our main goal being to post cool photos and hopefully spark a “wow” moment– to a more diverse entity (although one still embodied by our quad-hydra-headed anarchic team). All the awesome photos and bios of women in palaeontology, geology and archaeology are now hosted in more refined accommodations at this very website (which we hope will soon get another revamp). Beyond this, we threw out tendrils into numerous exciting collaborations, from 2015’s Fossil Hunter Lottie Doll– hearing about kids enjoying her has not lost its joy– to 2017’s Raising Horizons touring exhibition, still going strong (and possibly coming to Scotland ere long).
And it’s connections and sharing work that merges with the theme of IWD 2019: #BalanceForBetter, calling for action towards reaching gender balance. Our core work since the beginning has been about changing minds by showing the hidden history of these disciplines, as well as promoting those working in the professions today. And balance is key, not only in our aim to shift the clichéd ‘Indiana Jones’ narrative, but in how we do this.
Today well over half our posts are submitted by others. We unknowingly tapped into an incredible community, hungry to hear– and be involved in telling– stories that act as counterweights to the dominating history and present day centring of men’s contributions. What we have collectively created is a new narrative bringing to wider attention not only the more famous ‘trowelblazers’ of the past two centuries, but the multitudes of women who never got accolades, but simply got stuck into what they loved.
TrowelBlazers stands on the shoulders of others– many of them women. Researchers who spent years or entire careers documenting women’s work; curators who preserve and study archives we use; and of course the pioneers, the risk takers, the dogged-bloody-minded ‘vinegar’ women who kept pushing and pushing to be the first, or just for space to be.
We also stand shoulder-to-shoulder with organisations who are each taking action– deeds and words– with the same goal as us, but via different spheres: British Women Archaeologists have tirelessly worked to monitor and quantify professional conditions, while newer groups like the RESPECT campaign act to put issues around harassment at the centre of fieldwork. The Equality and Diversity group within the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists is campaigning for more inclusion, and the establishment by Amy Talbot of a facebook mentoring group for women archaeologists was met with an immense response. Together, we are stronger.
Mary Anning, the original “vinegar” woman. By Henry De la Beche. Used with permission of Roderick Gordon
In 2019, why is IWD and re-balancing still important? What difference can we at TrowelBlazers, and everyone else make? Aside from simple accuracy, the tendency to nudge aside and actively suppress women’s roles in the earth sciences and archaeology has direct impacts on those working today. There are plenty of scientific studies showing the real impact bias has on the way that minorities including women are held back or actively mistreated. Professions based on equality and filled with diversity are proven to be better not just for staff, but the calibre of the work they do.
It’s not just organisations that have power- it’s everyone; after all the actions of individuals are most often what underlies the problems. So this year we are asking individuals– especially men– to step up: take time to boost women. Move aside and offer space, opportunities, platforms with no strings attached. Speak up when you see something wrong, and shoulder the risks that women– often in junior positions– cannot. Deeds, not words.
So, if you want to help, but aren’t sure where to start in earning your Level 1 TrowelBlazer apprenticeship, for IWD here’s an easy mission. Join our guerilla campaign to #TrowelblazeYourSpace: download the templates and fill the place you work with inspiring women: their faces and what they do. You can writer about women from our archive, or any others- big up your colleagues too! Get out there, and get grafting.
One of the many #TrowelblazeYourSpace templates, thanks to Bethan Upex
