The new documentary Iron Ladies tells the powerful story of working-class women who, during the 1984–85 Miners’ Strike, found themselves leading the fight against the British state.
From Scotland to Kent, women from coalfield communities share their memories of that year-long struggle and how they became the driving force behind the movement. Many remain active campaigners today, and their courage helped transform the future of political activism for working-class women.
Directed by Daniel Draper (Nature of the Beast, The Big Meeting), Iron Ladies is a celebration of the iron willed women who maintained the 1984/85 Miners’ Strike as they fought for the future of their communities.
‘There have been plenty of films about the Miners’ Strike, but we believe there is space for a film dedicated to women who contributed so much.’ says Draper.
Iron Ladies shines a spotlight on the previously overlooked narratives of women, who still fight for their communities today. Among the 20 unsung working-class heroes who share their stores, are two from Scotland – Carol Ross and Linda Erskine. Raising money to support striking workers, picketing, collecting food for food parcels, organising, speaking at rallies, and feeding hundreds of hungry families every day at the strike centres were just some of the things the women did to sustain the strike.
Although the Miners’ lost the strike after a year, these ‘Iron Ladies’ were integral.
‘The women were the glue that held the strike together’ says Carol Ross, Cowdenbeath,
‘without the women, the strike would’ve ended months before. But it wasn’t about feminism, it was about class.’ Many women continued after 1985 to be politically active or integral members of local communities. Linda, from Lochgelly, went on to be a local councillor ‘We’ve got to make communities places people want to be’.
‘This is not just a story of the past.’ continues Draper,
‘All our contributors are still politically active and live in the communities that bear the scars of 40-years ago. Filming this documentary over 18 months allowed us to capture the spirit that still exists today.’
Iron Ladies is in cinemas now, and is playing Cameo Edinburgh on 21st November. More info at www.shutoutthelight.co.uk/iron-ladies
The post Iron Ladies Brings to Life the Working-Class Women Who Changed British Activism appeared first on Edinburgh Magazine – Positive Local News in Edinburgh, Scotland.
