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

Strong Women

A big obstacle for circus women was finding acceptance for their strength. Showing strength in any form, whether it be through demeanor or emotion was considered inappropriate for women. The strong women of the circus who demonstrated their strength physically were therefore a truly dangerous and unbecoming group. Seeing women display improper gender traits by exhibiting their strength was simultaneously something that onlookers were horrified by, but also enjoyed as the acts were popular in the circus. 

It was such an unusual sight that many could not help but be curious how a woman could reach that level of strength without turning into a man, even doctors stating, “any other type of physical fitness ‘of a masculine character causes the female body to become fore like that of a man’.”  While this sentiment caused many women to stray further away from physical activity out of fear, it caused others to push even harder and become even stronger to prove them wrong. The strong women in the circus were visible proof that women had more than just a little energy and could perform tasks outside of the home, breaking the stereotype of women’s immobility.
 

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