New Histories – Page 4 – The free online History magazine

Uplifting Stories from History; a story of freedom and hope

By Steph Ritson

The Fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 saw a victory for freedom and the end of the division between West and East Berlin. The fall of the wall ushered in the reunification of Germany ending decades of separation and captivity for the East.

Following the Second World War Germany was split between European world zones. This left East Berlin under Soviet control. The Soviets consequently build the Berlin wall in 1961. The wall was labelled as an ‘anti-fascist protection barrier’ that stretch from the Baltic to Czechoslovakia. However, this barrier furthered the repression and control of the people rather than guaranteeing security and freedom.The Berlin wall was a constant reminder of cold war anxieties, and prevented those in the East escaping to the more prosperous West. Many came to view the wall as the ultimate symbol of the tyrannical regime that denied them of fundamental rights.

Uplifting Moments: 1980 ‘Miracle on Ice’ Provided a Miracle for the American Psyche

By Ellie Marlow

‘Do you believe in miracles?’ asked Al Michael in the dying seconds of what would come to be remembered as one of the most famous international ice hockey matchups in history. It was the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid and, contrary to all expectations, the US team were moments away from beating the Soviets. They had assumed underdog status throughout the tournament as the seventh-seed and youngest team, with an average age of twenty-one, as well as having lost 10-3 in an exhibition match to the USSR less than two weeks before. Against a Soviet side made up of seasoned veterans, their loss seemed inevitable. But the inevitable did not happen. Victory was made even more incredible for the American people by occurring against the backdrop of recession, the Iranian hostage crisis, Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the ongoing Cold War. In a period of intense American anxiety, the ‘Miracle on Ice’ proved to be much more than a sports success. It typifies the vitality of sport to society and how its universal appeal and sense of belonging can prove invaluable at lifting the spirit of the people.

‘Just let me hear some of that rock and roll music’: How Radio Caroline Transformed British Radio from 1964-67.

By Sam Gilder

The ‘swinging sixties’ was characterised by rising living standards, increased sexual freedoms and the emphatic influence of the youth on British culture. Rock and roll had erupted in Britain, with bands such as The Beatles, The Kinks and The Rolling Stones characterizing the new shift in pop music. London was at the centre of these changes, with immigration into the capital resulting in a melting pot of new musical styles such as jazz and soul. Despite this, the BBC largely ignored these new musical influences, having dominated radio since the 1920s they played music that fell in line with a moral and traditional Britain.

Women Abroad: Female Travellers in Italy in the late Eighteenth-Century

By Jess Allen

The flexibility of the ‘separate spheres’ ideology has been thoroughly demonstrated by historians due to evidence signifying women’s inherent role in public life. Whilst there was still a domesticated role seldom expected of women in the late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century, particularly after the French Revolution, women in public life further increases. Due to the Lockean ideology of citizenship presented in The Declaration for the Rights of Man and Citizen in France, Mary Wollstonecraft drew up a similar abstract of her own, titled a Vindication of the Rights of Woman, of which she argued for more political responsibilities and representation of women. This, coupled with expanding the female workforce, demonstrates a subtle shift to a more ‘equally’ gendered world.

New Histories Volume 10: Women’s History – Foreword

For this edition of New Histories, we wanted to provide a space for students to discuss Women’s History in Women’s History Month. While there has no doubt been much disruption due to the impact of COVID-19, it is hoped that this magazine will provide an outlet for students who are now locked down to engage with their passions in a way that provides information for others too.

‘We want to grow up before we blow up’: Motherhood and Women Strike for Peace in the New York Times

By Alex Boulton

On 15 January 1962, nearly 2000 American women and their children picketed the White House in the pouring rain, posting soggy letters to incumbent President John F. Kennedy while juggling umbrellas, placards and strollers. With signs that read ‘Never Say Die’ and ‘When it rains, it pours- Strontium 90’, the women were members of Women Strike for Peace (WSP), a protest ‘unorganization’ created to put pressure on the US and USSR to end atmospheric nuclear testing. Motivated by studies that found the radioactive isotope, Strontium-90, in breast and cow’s milk, WSP dominated press coverage of the anti-nuclear movement, a feat primarily achieved by framing their activism around middle-class motherhood.

Anne Lister’s Diaries: Decoding the Secrets of The ‘First Modern Lesbian’

by Hannah McCann

The television drama Gentleman Jack, based on the life of 19^th-century lesbian Anne Lister, has been ground-breaking in its portrayal of lesbian relationships. Lister is a significant part of queer and women’s history and her story has rightly been recently adapted for the screen. This article will not focus on Lister’s life but the source of her history – her secret diaries, which were written in her own code. She used code when writing about private matters – sex, money and her opinions on the people around her. In fact, one sixth of her writing was in code – a mix of Ancient Greek, mathematics and punctuation. These diaries have a fascinating history, almost as intriguing as Anne herself. Without them, her voice would have been lost to history, a fate that befell many queer women.

Comfort Women – Shedding Light on the Imperial Japanese Empire’s Dark Secret

By Tia A. Giove

In discussing the wide breadth of women’s history, many events become unearthed that deserve significant historical recognition. One area from the 20^th century that has been greatly overlooked, despite occurring as a result of one of the most historical focused and revisited events, is the comfort women of the Japanese Empire during WWII.

Spartan Women: Equality in Cultural Repression?

By Melina Katsoulakis

Sparta has a name for being the tough city of the Ancient Greek world. Films like ‘300’ represent the emphasis on warrior strength that was incredibly important to the Spartans. However, this was not simply important for the men, physical strength was also a trait cultivated by women. The Spartan social and political system was based on the Laws of Lycurgus, a mythological founder of the city. He believed that “for women to bear strong children, they should avoid the secluded life of most Greek women.” In this sense Sparta was culturally more equal than other Hellenic cities at the time although not necessarily liberated.

The misogynistic history of mental health

By Tierney Rhodes

The understanding and impact that mental health can have on people and society has become increasingly important. With more people in prominent positions using their voice and platforms to voice their own experiences with mental health, it has become something that is commonly referenced in day to day life, and rightfully so. However, the history of mental health is long and complicated, spanning from Ancient Egypt to modern day. The history of mental health is so complex as it intersects with a number of other factors, including sexuality and race. However, the history of mental health in terms of gender is rich, and the understanding of women’s mental health is explicitly misogynistic from the get-go.