Revolutionary Women: A Book of Stencils

by Queen of the Neighbourhood

Both a radical feminist history and a street art resource, this handbook combines short biographies with striking and usable stencil images of 30 female activists, anarchists, feminists, freedom fighters, and visionaries. From Harriet Tubman, Emma Goldman, and Angela Davis to Vandana Shiva, Sylvia Rivera, and Lucy Parsons, this collection offers a subversive portrait celebrating the military prowess and revolutionary drive of these women whose violent resolve often shatters the archetype of woman as nurturer. A sampling of quotes from key writings and speeches gives voice to each woman’s ideologies, philosophies, struggles, and quiet humanity while the stencils offer further opportunities to commemorate these women and their actions through the reproduction of their likenesses.

Genres: Nonfiction, Feminism, Art, History, Biography, Activism

128 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2010

Reviews

[t · Rating 4 out of 5]

really really interesting concept (re revolutionary chic, the grassroots accessibility of stencils verses the kitsch-ified mass reproduction and commodification of its imagery, and the iconography of the individual overpowering the importance of unified community action) - honestly the introduction and history of the project was great reading in and of itself. the biographies themselves were informative and revelatory (i shamefully hadn’t heard of most of these women or even their movements) though admittedly often depressing reading. very cool!
i will sadly not be using the stencils to reproduce and remix as i got this as a gift for my grandma. radicalise your grandmas!

[Black Bibliophile · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would keep on my shelf as a quick reference to powerful women throughout history. If it doesn't come with a second book, it should.

[Nikita T. Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome concept (re: stencils) and a quick read. My favorite women profiled in this were Mother Jone,s Lolita Lebron, Hannie Shaft, Leila Khaled, Assata Shakur (of course), Sylvia Rivera, Olive Morris, and Phoolan Devi. I need a t-shirt with one of these women on it now!

Fave quotes:

"You can call it rape in your fancy language. Do you have any idea what it's like to live in a village in India? What you call rape, that kind of thing happens to poor women in the villages every day. It is assumed that the daughters of the poor are for the use of the rich." - Phoolan Devi

Re: Mother Jones "She lived among the people with whom she worked and said that her home was "Well, wherever there is a fight"" (24)

"A nation cannot be liberated whether internally or externally while its women are enchained." -Doria Shafik (Egypt)

[Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book, originally a zine, is made up of concise descriptions of revolutionary women. Some are unionists, while others are eco-feminists, anti fascists, education activists, guerillas, authors, anarchists, socialists, and a mixture of many more.
the point of the book is to show a global representation of, not perfect women but, women who fought and pioneered for universal rights. The book is an attempt to give female representation in a male dominated field: revoluntionaries. As said, short descriptions but the book also acts as a street level resource, coming with stencils of each women and encouraging readers to turn the stencils into tshirts or posters etc.

[Verkakte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revolutionary Women is successful in its project of creating images of intriguing women in the fashion of Che Guevara’s iconic stencil while also providing brief biographies. This book has a refreshingly global representation of women from different countries and cultures, and with different revolutionary tactics and philosophies. The biographies include very minimal background information, but such brevity allows the courage of these thirty women to be highlighted regardless of the causes for which they fought.

[Andrew Benzinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personal Favorite Highlights:

“We revolutionaries aren't just chasing a scarlet flag. What we pursue is an awakening of liberty, old or new. It is the ancient Communes of France, it is 1703; it is June 1848; it is 1871. Most especially it is the next revolution which is advancing under this dawn.” (23, Louise Michel)

“The philosophy of anarchism is included in the word ‘Liberty,’ yet it is comprehensive enough to include all things else that are conductive to progress…. No barriers whatever to human progression, to thoughts, or investigation are placed by anarchism; nothing is considered so true or so certain, that future discoveries may not prove it false; therefore, it has but one infallible, unchangeable motto, ‘Freedom’: Freedom to discover any truth, freedom to develop, to live naturally and fully.” (32, Lucy Parsons)

“Freedom only for the supporters of the government, only for the members of a party - however numerous they may be - is no freedom at all. Freedom is always the freedom of the dissenter.” (38, Rosa Luxemburg)

“You can't ask a mother to moderately snatch her baby out of a burning house.” (77, Angela Davis)

“Only the strong go crazy. The weak just go along.” (86, Assata Shakur)

“I don't want to live in a world where five giant companies control our health and our food.” (98, Vandana Shiva)

[Krystl Louwagie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's fascinating to learn the complicated and impressive lives so many of these women have led that I'd never even heard of. Sadly, my memory is awful and I'll likely remember their stories without actually remembering their names. Though I did take some screenshots of the ones I was most intrigued by (to possibly learn/look up more later). The stencils were cool but without having a physical copy of the book to keep they didn't end up meaning a lot for me at this time (though I can remember them if I find a cool need for them in the future). Maybe a future portrait series project at some point, who knows.

[Aaron White · Rating 4 out of 5]

A series of biographies and stencils of revolutionary women, an attempt to include the faces and stories of women in the revolutionary narrative and aesthetic. This is well done and inspiring, even when the stories include horrific violence (and the authors do not sign off on the violence, but include the stories to show the wide range of female-led revolutionary action).

[Maaike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eigenlijk een heel simpel idee, en heel tof om de korte biografiëen van zulke fascinerende vrouwen te lezen. Interessant, met veel mij voorheen onbekende revolutionaire vrouwen. Nu heb ik zin om stencils te maken om de stad mee op te fleuren.

[Richa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need to read more about all these women!

[Kristin Delo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short biographies about 30 women - I was only somewhat familiar with 7 of those listed before I picked it up, so obviously learned a lot. Included women from all areas of the world.

[Katsu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome lecture that gives you some insight to the history that's completely omitted in schools.
Enriches knowledge and sparks interest in subject. Made me want to learn more about some of women mentioned there.
Great for future reference.

[l · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was on hoopla. Hadn't heard of a few of these. Some names to explore.

[Eve Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book introduced me to a great deal of revolutionary women I had never heard of before. I feel so enlightened now having read it. There were alot of women in it I want to read more about and know about their lives more. It really woke me to the power of one woman in this world of so much over population. I think I'll come back to this book time and time again to remind myself just what one single person can achieve.

[Tamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick and very good read, only a few activists stood out to me, Assata Shakur, Malalai Joya, and Ani Pachen. Very inspiring book, I look forward to diving into the knowledge realm of feminism, womens issues, as well as issues steaming from oppression.

[Andrew Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing collection of female revolutionaries from the 19-21st century along with easily reproducible stencils for all your revolutionary graffiti needs. Seriously this is a fantastic overview/who's-who that deserves your attention.

[reading is my hustle · Rating 5 out of 5]

nikita: 06/11

[Gillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this, but was hoping for more robust descriptions.

[Nikki Reads A Lot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't wait to make some rad patches

[Tuğçe · Rating 5 out of 5]

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