Library Celebrates 19th Amendment Centennial with Suffragettes in Corselettes: the Evolution of Underwear & Our 19th Amendment Program

ZOOM Program!
Suffragettes in Corselettes: the evolution of underwear & our 19th amendment
Presented by the Grounded Goodwife
Thursday, August 20th at 6:30
Registration begins August 1st
For centuries, women have allowed themselves to be squeezed, twisted, and squished to conform to desired shapes. The history of underwear reveals a lot about women’s changing roles in society – how we perceive ourselves, and how we’re viewed by others. The 1910s saw an end to the hourglass figure with a tiny waist. Women were finally able to breathe and move more freely. Did the demise of tightlacing help women gain the right to vote in 1920? Underwear matters. This presentation is hands-on and participatory. Tight corseting exerted 22 pounds of pressure on internal organs – find out what that actually feels like! Experience the difficulty of completing everyday tasks while wearing a corset. Have you ever relay raced in a hobble skirt?! This is a must-see event!
 
Don't Miss Our Special Display- Rise Up, Sisters!
August 17th through August 28th
Torrington Library Rotunda During Library Hours/ Face Coverings Required. Social Distancing will be maintained!
In honor of the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment, the Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame (CWHF) and the Connecticut Historical Society (CHS) are working together with the support of CTHumanities to provide this outstanding and unique display! This display will be featured at the Torrington Library August 17-August 28th and chronicles the diverse group of Connecticut women who were instrumental in the movement for  woman suffrage. The banners tell many different stories, from the Smith sisters of Glastonbury who spoke up about injustices against women and helped to spark others to follow in their footsteps, to Alice Paul, who put her life on the line to force the issue on a national level and whose tenacity helped to sway public opinion in the final hours.