Jack the Ripper: Serial-ously Killing Women
Jack the Ripper is a famous serial killer from London who’s terrible past is now a major attraction for tourists. Around Brick Lane there is a museum dedicated to Jack the Ripper which discusses the killings and other disturbing parts of Jack the Ripper’s life. The museum opened in 2015 but before it was finalized as a Jack the Ripper Museum, it was originally supposed to be a women’s history museum, the only of its kind located in the East End of London.
When the switch from women’s history to a museum that glorifies a man who committed terrible crimes, protests occurred. An article states that hundreds of women showed up in order to protest the “tacky” serial killer museum opening on the East End of London (Brooke). Below is a picture of a woman protesting with a bloody Jack the Ripper head in order to stop people from going to the museum.
When hearing and seeing the museum now, some odd years after this change and protests occurred, it is hard to wrap my mind why more people were not upset over this change. If I was in London at the time of the announcement that the museum was no longer going to be dedicated to women who had some role in shaping society, I would have been at the protest without a doubt. Every person able to make it should have been at that protest, more significantly the women. It should be important for everyone that women and men are seen as equals, but because I am a woman, it is extremely important for me to make fight for equality. The changing of a women’s history museum to a glorified killer museum is a great example of how women are overshadowed.
Yes, the fight equal rights for women has come a long way but a lot of the women who were supposed to be featured in the history museum were apart of a time when women were only considered to be good for having kids and pleasing their husbands. Due to the era that these women made such great history, their names are often forgotten. It is important to know what contributions have been due to women not only to give them the appreciation they deserve but to also help influence the younger generation. If a younger me walked into a museum strictly dedicated to women and I would have been beyond inspired. Far too often women are given harsh boundaries on the types of careers they should go after or that they need to have a family but the women who make history are the ones who break those boundaries. Ripping a museum for women from the public is sending a message that women are not important enough to have a museum, but a serial killer is. What a great thing to be teaching the younger generation. That alone should make people want to protest the Jack the Ripper museum, I know it would make me.
Although a big reason for protesting the changing of the museum would be motivated by feminism, another would be based on the history factor. Male or female, a person who had an impact on shaping society should be recognized. Museums are a great way for the public to learn about great figures of history or study pieces of work that are centuries old. Without museums a lot of the public, particularly the younger generation, would not have the knowledge on certain topics. Plus, seeing something in front of you and giving yourself time to read and look allows the information to really stick rather than reading it out of a textbook.
After spending time in the United Kingdom and learning about the important figure heads of British history, women have had some great roles and done some amazing things for the nation. That is why I am more confused of why Britain would not want to continue to display the greatness of their women with a museum to pay tribute. It is a shame to think about the women whose legacies are not able to be shared all because a museum for a serial killer was put in their place. If I was in London, four years ago, I would have been at the protest, next to all other people who have some common sense of why a Jack the Ripper Museum is the most ridiculous concept.
Reference:
Brooke, Mike. Angry women unveil protest billboard in East End facing Jack the Ripper museum. 23 May 2016.
