A Pocketful of Patriarchy: The gendered history of the pocket

01/14/24 • 21 min

SUMMER SPECIAL: There’s a reason women always exclaim in delight when they realise a garment has pockets, and it is a story that is woven through hundreds of years of history — and firmly entrenched in the suffragette movement.

In this special summer edition of Ratbags & Roustabouts, we unravel the history of the pocket, learning about how fashion for both men and women changed over the centuries and the close link between our clothes and the evolution of politics.

Hosted by Marion Langford. Follow on Instagram or check out the website at ratbagsandroustabouts.com. Do you know a story that the history books forgot? Let us know about it!

Hosted by Marion Langford. Follow on Instagram or check out the website at ratbagsandroustabouts.com. Do you know a story that the history books forgot? Let us know about it!

Previous Episode

Why Pluto was pushed out of the solar system

SUMMER SPECIAL: In 1930, the elusive Planet X — later named Pluto — was introduced to the world to much fanfare as the solar system’s ninth planet. So why was it rejected again, just 76 years later?

When US astronomer Clyde Tombaugh first found Pluto on the edge of the solar system, he joined the small and exclusive club of planet discoverers. The world was, frankly, over the moon about the newest, littlest planet. They loved it so much, even Mickey Mouse named his dog after it.

Then along came Pluto’s biggest fan, Mike Brown. His love for the little planet would eventually lead him into a career in astronomy — and would spell doom for the solar system’s coolest (literally — it can get down to -240C) member.

Find out exactly how Pluto became the little planet that couldn’t in this special summer edition of Ratbags & Roustabouts.

Hosted by Marion Langford. Follow on Instagram or check out the website at ratbagsandroustabouts.com. Do you know a story that the history books forgot? Let us know about it!

Next Episode

Murder on the dance floor: Audrey Jacob and Cyril Gidley

In 1925, Audrey Jacob walked through the crowded ballroom of Perth’s Government House, tapped Cyril Gidley on the shoulder and shot him point blank in the chest. But after a sensational trial, she was cleared of murder. So just how was she found not guilty?

Audrey Jacob was just 20 years old when she was out with a friend at the annual St John of God ball in Perth and she saw her fiance, 25-year-old Cyril Gidley, dancing with another woman.

Cyril, a ship’s engineer, was meant to be on his ship in Singapore at the time, so Audrey hadn’t expected to see him at the ball, let alone with someone else. But when she tried to get his attention, he completely blanked her.

So it was that at around 1.30am, she weaved her way through the crowded dance floor, tapped Gidley on the shoulder, raised her right hand which was holding a gun, and shot him in the chest.

He slumped to the floor dead.

But when Audrey faced court on a charge of murder, the jury found her not guilty.

In this episode we look at Audrey and Cyril’s tumultuous relationship, and just how she was cleared of any wrongdoing.

Hosted by Marion Langford. Follow on Instagram or check out the website at ratbagsandroustabouts.com. Do you know a story that the history books forgot? Let us know about it!