#warforindependence

[mycandlesblog]

Why Are UK Conservatives Called Tories?

The Conservative Party in the UK is known colloquially as the Tory Party. Its supporters are generally called Tories. Why?  Many Americans m

[womenofcoloniallatinamerica]

Cross dressing Warriors:

Although not an individual hero, there are various women who cross dressed as men in order to join the Latin American wars for independence. These women rejected gendered culture which inhibited their participation in the ranks.  They would abandon their families and identities and join the rebellious armies as men in order to stand by their convictions and fight for their liberation from imperial forces.  Women who were found out were punished with social rejection, humiliation and at times imprisoned or killed.  These women bravely carried the burden of being discovered while living amongst the ranks of men fighting against Spanish imperialism.  They fought valiantly alongside the men and on occasion bared arms, which was certainly not the norm nor allowed in Latin America’s patriarchal society.  A notable female who took on a male identity so that she may fight for her independence was Nicolasa Jorado, who fought as a Pinchincha warrior.  She fought in many battles in Ecuador’s war against Spain and was only discovered to be a female after she was severely wounded in battle.  These women, like Nicolasa Jorado. should be recognized in history’s retelling of Latin America’s wars for independence because, although a vast minority of the soldiers, they were a part of the battle against Spanish colonialism and can be perceived as feminist hero’s in Latin America for their bravery and commitment.

Socolow, Susan. "Enlightenment Reform." In The Women of Colonial Latin America, 171. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000.