Battle-axe (woman)

This article is about the archetype woman. For other uses, see Battleaxe (disambiguation).
Carrie Nation, brandishing a hatchet

A battle-axe is a term, generally considered pejorative, for an aggressive, domineering and forceful woman. The prime example was the militant temperance activist Carrie Nation, who wielded a hatchet and made it her symbol, living in Hatchet Hall and publishing a magazine called The Hatchet. She became involved in the suffragette campaign for votes for women and this campaign further established the archetype.[1][2]

Other examples, listed by Christine Hamilton in her Book of British Battleaxes, include Nancy Astor, Boudica, Ena Sharples and Ann Widdecombe.[3]

The battleaxe is one of several stereotypes found in nursing - a tyrannical, fierce matron exemplified by Nurse Ratched or Hattie Jacques in popular medical dramas and comedies.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Helen Rappaport (2001), "Nation, Carry (1846-1911)", Encyclopedia of women social reformers 1, pp. 478–479, ISBN 978-1-57607-101-4
  2. ↑ Fran Grace (2001), Carry A. Nation, p. 243, ISBN 978-0-253-33846-4
  3. ↑ Christine Hamilton (2003), The Book of British Battleaxes, ISBN 978-1-86105-610-8
  4. ↑ Philip Darbyshire and Suzanne Gordon (2005), "The Battleaxe or Monstrous Figure", Professional nursing, ISBN 978-0-8261-2554-5

Further reading