3 Offshore Women

Capitalism, Labour and Shipping

Albeit the maritime world is traditionally considered a solely male domain, from the second half of the 19th century, several women rode the waves of the Upper and Eastern Adriatic as ship-owners, maritime staff, and, later, even officers.

Their stories are unknown to most, yet those women were real pioneers. They were the first to sail the stormy seas of prejudice and stereotypes regarding gender roles, daring to question the notion of “proper” jobs for men and “proper” jobs for women (i.e. the gendered division of labour).

Perhaps it is no coincidence that the Political and Navigation Edict of 1774 – the cornerstone around which the entire maritime history of the Austro-Hungarian Empire revolves – was the work of the ingenuity and will of an intelligent and courageous woman, as powerful as she was bright: Empress Maria Theresa.

The present narrative path is dedicated to them, to the stories of those female mavericks who chose “to put out into the deep”.

3.1 Female Sea Dogs

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3.2 Sava and Jolanda

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3.3 Figureheads and Mermaids

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3.4 Marigo Kulukundis: an “Invisible” Captain of Industry

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