What is a "cowgirl" really? I like to call myself a cowgirl because I like to dress in western clothes, I own a horse and ride, and I'd much rather wear my cowboy boots than don a pair of heels and tight skirt. Somehow, though, when I look back at some of the women in history that we call cowgirls, I don't think I hold a candle to them.
Women of the west that we call cowgirls never looked like the ruby lipped, long-legged, fringe-skirted damsels in distress portrayed in movies, TV and old posters. Many of them dressed like men, drank and swore like men, chewed tobacco and were just as deadly with a gun and clever with a rope as men. There were several who deliberately passed themselves off as men in order to survive in the man's world of the old west.
Calamity Jane was famous for her habit of dressing in men's clothing. Martha Cannary, aka "Calamity Jane" was born in Missouri in 1852 and was an expert horsewoman and sharp shooter at an early age. It is said that she earned the nickname during and Indian campaign in 1873 when she rescued a cavalryman. She also traveled with the famous "Buffalo Bill" Cody and his Wild West Show. Many magazine writers of the late-1870's wrote graphic, puffed up stories for their readers back east about Jane and the Wild West.
Annie Oakley was born Phoebe Moses in 1860. She learned to hunt game at the age of nine to help feed her widowed mother and siblings in Ohio. By the age of 12 she could shoot the head off a running quail. Word spread of her tomboy talents and by 1885 she was part of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. For 17 years she was the show's main attraction.
Those were brave women who stepped out of the stiff traditions of their era and lived their lives doing what they liked to do. I'm so glad that today we aren't limited to a certain "code" of proper dress. Cowgirl fashion ranges from frilly, lacy dresses and skirts with boots to button down shirts and comfortable jeans. I love them all, but I'm still happiest in my boots and jeans.
Women of the west that we call cowgirls never looked like the ruby lipped, long-legged, fringe-skirted damsels in distress portrayed in movies, TV and old posters. Many of them dressed like men, drank and swore like men, chewed tobacco and were just as deadly with a gun and clever with a rope as men. There were several who deliberately passed themselves off as men in order to survive in the man's world of the old west.
Calamity Jane was famous for her habit of dressing in men's clothing. Martha Cannary, aka "Calamity Jane" was born in Missouri in 1852 and was an expert horsewoman and sharp shooter at an early age. It is said that she earned the nickname during and Indian campaign in 1873 when she rescued a cavalryman. She also traveled with the famous "Buffalo Bill" Cody and his Wild West Show. Many magazine writers of the late-1870's wrote graphic, puffed up stories for their readers back east about Jane and the Wild West.
Annie Oakley was born Phoebe Moses in 1860. She learned to hunt game at the age of nine to help feed her widowed mother and siblings in Ohio. By the age of 12 she could shoot the head off a running quail. Word spread of her tomboy talents and by 1885 she was part of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. For 17 years she was the show's main attraction.
Those were brave women who stepped out of the stiff traditions of their era and lived their lives doing what they liked to do. I'm so glad that today we aren't limited to a certain "code" of proper dress. Cowgirl fashion ranges from frilly, lacy dresses and skirts with boots to button down shirts and comfortable jeans. I love them all, but I'm still happiest in my boots and jeans.
1 comment:
I couldn't agree more! Jeans and boots for me! "Good" jeans and boots for special occasions. :) I found your blog and, coincidentally we both have the Dale Evans quote in our blog!
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