Women & the Mines

Although I’m a young woman I rarely look critically at an issue in the classroom from the perspective of a feminist, and I am almost never the first to consider the issue of gender when discussing whatever it is that grad students spend their time discussing.  That said, this blog post is all about the ladies.  Not just any ladies but the women of Springhill.  Aside from detailed reports from Springhill in the newspaper articles I read for my project, there was also a lot of description of those who awaited the men near the mine yard.  The women.

In the Ottawa Citizen on October 24^th, 1958 miner McManaman was quoted as saying that “It’s toughest on the women, the kids – it don’t bother them. They don’t realize yet what it’s all about.”

Women also figure prominently in Melissa Fay Greene’s “Last Man Out” – a novel-like storytelling of the disaster.  Many of the mentions of women in my tweets are thanks to her careful research for her book and I was able to gain insight into the lives of those affected by mining beyond the miners themselves.  This in depth look at the women of Springhill also painted a picture of the home lives of the miners as the women, particularly those with children, were often described in this setting.

The story of the young mulatto couple, Norma & Maurice Ruddick, with twelve children inspired me.  Having given birth shortly before the disaster, Norma was at home with twelve children while Maurice sat underground, toiled underground, sang underground, always with the hope of going home.  All the while Norma wouldn’t believe that God would leave her with those children and without him.  Norma Ruddick passed away in September 2012 and this news clip is worth a watch if you’d like to see some footage from the disaster as well as some kind words about the role Norma and other women play in the lives of miners, for the good and the bad.

The strength of the Springhill women is something I will comment on again through this blog and it’s almost unimaginable what they went through.  All of that said, these ladies were strong and the wives and families of miners continue to persevere through contemporary disasters.

Just last month there was a fire at a Potash mine in Saskatchewan.  Most workers were hastened into safe rooms to wait for the fire to be extinguished and the mine to be ventilated.  These safe rooms contained provisions and phones – so trapped miners were able to call their ‘womenfolk’ to let them know they were okay.  What a different world from that of Springhill 1958 eh?  And yet the women were still waiting at the mine entrance for their men to come up and go home at the end of their ordeal.

As usual, I'm keen to hear your thoughts!

Rebecca