Agency through Otherness: Portraits of Performers in Circus Route Books, 1875-1925

Daring Women

As women advocated for themselves and found a place within the circus, many unique acts arose. Women were found in almost every sector of the circus by the mid 1920’s. From aerialists and highflyers to musicians and contortion, women were a part of it all. How they arrived at these positions often involved family. Whether they were born into the circus or married into it, more often than not they were legally a part of the circus family.  

This familial aspect was used often by the circuses to promote their shows, proving to the laypeople that they were living in an upstanding community, using ‘stories of marriage and children as a positive avenue to present their female employees in a favorable light to the American public.”  To an extent, this was true as life within the circus was highly structured and proper. There were also strict rules on behavior and appearance, especially for the women, to make sure that they remained in a good light and stayed safe while on the road. 

Though women were less prevalent in the circus, the women that did make it into the show were typically the highlight of the performance, especially within family troupes. Marriages and family connections were constantly made and intertwined in the circus with hopes for a better job placement. The means by which women found work within the circus were varied, but they used these to their advantage to promote themselves and be the biggest success stories under the big top.
 

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