Stromness Museum blog

Haven't you heard of Isabel Gunn?

Black and white portrait of the artists.  The artists are stood together, both looking towards the camera.  They are both dressed in black and have long straight hair with fringes.
BOYD & GROGAN, Artist Duo

 

The sheer volume of artefacts on display and stored in the collections at the Stromness Museum had our heads in a spin. All we knew was our aim was to continue on with our current art practice and that was to research and investigate the woman’s place in Orkney. 

 

Our connections to the north isles had our initial thoughts leaning toward the herring fishing and the gruelling daily tasks carried out by the women that followed the shoals. Then we learnt about Isabel…

 

What do you mean you haven’t heard of Isabel Gunn?

 

There are many stories and articles with plenty of speculation regarding Isabel; aka John Fubbister, aka Mary Fubbister and her reasonings for her adventures across the Atlantic Ocean. 


It’s noted that she was a woman who left her family to work under the guise of a man as a result of poverty. Changed her name and worked as hard as any other male until her gender was revealed during child birth. 


As is usual with women in history, there is very little information on Isabel’s life before, during or after. Just scraps of records with speculation for her departure from Stromness, in 1806. Only for Isabel to be buried in an unmarked grave on the outskirts of the town. 


Sadly, we don’t claim to have the answers either but the challenges that were faced really captured our imagination. Could you change your identity and get paid by an employer without them questioning your gender today?  Would your National Insurance number or passport details give you away? Are employers and is society still biased around who would be better suited for the role? (We probably already know the answer to that last one.) 


We wondered how it felt to be dressed and treated like man, especially in a time when European women weren’t allowed to travel that far with the Hudson Bay Co? 

photograph of a framed poster in Stromness Museum. The poster is a recruitment poster depiicting a man  walking through the snow dressed in skins and carrying snow shoes on his back. He carries a shotgun in his right hand.  Two wolves/huskies accompany him.
Hudson Bay recruitment poster on display at the Stromness Museum


The easiest way to get what you want in modern day society, to be recognised for your ability or talent is to be a man. You’ll be paid more. Your ability to progress in your chosen career will be easier. We’re not quashing or dismissing the struggles that men face today but as artists; and in particular female artists, we’re looking at this subject from a woman’s perspective and are inviting you; for a moment, to look at the world through our gaze. 

 

It wasn’t until the world wars, that in European society women’s attire began to imitate and replicate the masculine and even when worn, was still only for the privileged, prosperous or performers who were able to have a carefree stance on their outwardly appearance. 


In contrast and prior to the European Missionary influence, The First Nation Cree believed that a person could be born both male and female; a Two-Spirit being, so perhaps they saw Isabel or John as this?

 

We wondered what prompted Isabel to ‘escape’ and under the guise of a man in the early 1800’s? What encouraged her to opt to work in what is still deemed a masculine profession, where at the time women were banned? There are claims she did it as a result of poverty or that she did it for love, maybe she just wanted to be… a man. 


With our frontal cortex’s now full we have decided to look further into the gender attachment to clothing with the use of pinhole cameras and materials; kindly purchased by the Stromness Museum which we plan to combine with some modern techniques. 

Image of a black and white photograph depicting Martha stood in front of a brick wall. The photograph is dated to circa 1940.  Martha is wearing a three-piece suit, tie and hat.
Martha - Susan Boyd’s Great, Great Aunt circa 1940.

 


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Thanks to: 

Stromness Museum – Especially Norna for your time and access to the Museum. 


References:

http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/historicalfigures/isobelgunn.htm

Drag, The Complete Story by Simon Doonan – Printed by Laurance Kink Publishing 2019/2020

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/two-spirit

About the author

Boyd & Grogran - Artist Duo
Guest blogger - Móti Collective