The Raging Grannies are women activists over, or near, the age of 50, who tackle
a wide variety of issues raging from health and environment to sexism andageism.
Described as “[w]hite, middle-class, [and] educated,”(1) they are
often accredited with an innovative brand of activism notable for its frivolity
and
imagination.
Anti-ageism
Anti-capitalist exploitation
Cross-issue solidarity
Environmentalism
Anti-sexism
Anti-war
Anarcho-feminism
Revolutionary artistic movements
Extenuating Circumstances
Nuclear Emergency Response Team (NERT)
Radical Cheerleaders
No One Is Illegal
Food Not Bombs
Culture jamming
Arts activism
Symbolic protests
Street theatre
Marches/ Demonstrations
Flyering
Direct Action
Pink Bloc
Un-conventions
Pitchpipes
International Web homepage: http://www.geocities.com/raginggrannies/
Email: hamgran@sympatico.ca
Snail mail: n/a
Spokespersons: n/a
Canada & United States
Detroit, Michigan & Windsor, Ontario
Web homepage: http://www.geocities.com/raginggranni/
Email: raginggrannies@wideopenwest.com
Snail mail: n/a
Spokespersons: n/a
Canada
Vancouver, British Columbia
Web homepage: http://www.vcn.bc.ca/ragigran/
Email: Robsjd@light-speed.bc.ca
Snail mail: n/a
Spokespersons: n/a
Edmonton, Alberta
Web homepage: http://clubweb.interbaun.com/grannies/index.html
Email: grannies@compusmart.ab.ca
Snail mail: n/a
Spokespersons: Granny Betty and Granny Louise
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Web homepage: http://www.sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca/community/grannies/
Email: ac011@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca
Snail mail: n/a
Spokespersons: n/a
Toronto, Ontario
Web homepage: http://members.rogers.com/torontoraginggrannies/
Email: torontoraginggrannies@yahoo.ca
Snail mail: n/a
Spokespersons: n/a
Montreal, Quebec
Web homepage: http://www.raginggranniesmontreal.ca/
Email: hadlink@total.net
Snail mail: n/a
Spokespersons: n/a
United States
Seattle, Washington
Web homepage: http://www.raginggrannies.com/
Email: halecarolyn@juno.com
Snail mail: The Raging Grannies of Seattle
4509 Interlake Ave. N., #128,
Seattle WA 98103
Spokespersons: Elisabeth Hebert, Elaine Birn, Carolyn Hale
Boston, Massachusetts
Web homepage: http://www.wilpfboston.org/raging.html
Email:Ncwrenn@aol.com, elisa_02128@yahoo.com,
maestro@newdirections.com
Snail mail: n/a
Spokespersons: Nancy Wrenn, Elisabeth Leonard, Mary Westropp
Rochester, New York
Web homepage: http://www.rochesterraginggrannies.org/
Email: raginggrannies@juno.com
Snail mail: n/a
Spokespersons: Granny Vicky
England
London
Web homepage: n/a
Email: n/a
Snail mail: 709 Allenbrook Dr
London, ON
N6J 3D5
Spokespersons: n/a
Mostly in Canada, with new chapters emerging in the US, Europe, New Zealand,
Australia, and Russia.
1986 - present
The first group to call themselves the Raging Grannies appeared in 1986, growing
out of the Extenuating Circumstances group which relied on street theatre to
protest Canada’s support for American nuclear warships docked in Victoria,
British Columbia. When the activists realized that “they were all older
women, it was a natural progression to use the irascible old lady stereotype
as their image.”(2) Their first action took place on February 14, 1987,
with the Raging Grannies offering a giant broken heart to MP, Pat Crofton, then
Chairman of the Defence Committee. Since that time, over 60 groups (known as
‘gaggles’) have formed in Canada alone, with more chapters currently
opening up in the United States, England, Greece, Russia, Australia, and New
Zealand.
We’re women aged from mid 50’s to over 80 - not all grannies - from
different religious, ethnic and cultural traditions who share one goal: we want
to change society. Wearing our long skirts, shawls, running shoes, and especially
our Outrageous Hats, while singing our stinging satirical songs, we replace
the image of Nice Little Old Ladies with the reality of Feisty, Independent,
Outrageous, Older Women. Our Mission is to arouse awareness about such issues
as Peace, Social Justice, Environmental Protection, Racism -- and in so doing
to bring about necessary changes in both laws and attitudes. We want to challenge
the complacent
among us and force them to confront issues to which they’ve been indifferent
– or of which perhaps they are unaware. Our hope is that our kind of social
action will ensure a better and more just world for our grandchildren and the
generations to come.
Our credo and our approach is non-violent, but we are willing to take risks to get our message across. Each Grannie decides her own comfort level of risk taking. But whatever level we choose, we are impelled by our song which warns politicians not to take us Older Women for granted because
We "saintly" Older
Women
Are planning revolution
And we say
"ENOUGH’S ENOUGH!"
(Available at: http://www.ottawagrans.net/Mission.html)
The Raging Grannies stress peaceful civil disobedience combined with creativity
and humour. To this end they rely heavily on street theatre, usually consisting
of witty, satirical songs, and various unpredictable costumes and props. At
the core of their activism lies the knowledge that their prescribed ‘senior
citizen‘ status grants them credibility that can be used to open up avenues
of protest unavailable to other groups and individuals.
The Raging Grannies play
the system by attracting media attention to a variety of issues. Often appearing
as a ragtag gang of self-satirized ‘cartoon grannies’, possibly
donning gaudy pink shoes and large vintage hats, and carrying plastic missiles
on mock military boats, they succeed in making themselves heard by
making themselves seen.
Although they are not very ‘academic’ and do not put forth any specific
theoretical program, we could say that an anarcho-feminist strain can be found
in the philosophy and structure of the Raging Grannies. Currently, an Emma Goldman
quote adorns the Montreal chapter’s site and each chapter is firm on
refusing to support any one political party. They have been recorded as saying
that they are in fact “equally opposed to all parties.” 3 Furthermore,
the organizational structure of each gaggle is fairly anarchic: “each
group remains autonomous,” while always retaining the possibility of collaborating
together on larger projects.4 It should be noted, however, that the Grannies’
anarchofeminism assumes a less orthodox stance than did Emma Goldman‘s.
Although they refuse to collaborate with politicians and political parties,
they have recently embraced the struggle for proportional representation, with
some US chapters endorsing the vote.
Moreover, we can say that a cross-issue solidarity frequently manifests in the
Raging Grannies’ choice of actions. They have and continue to protest
against nuclear proliferation, genetically modified foods, war, poverty, capitalist
globalization, racism, homophobia, while also defending women’s rights,
the
environment, education, and public health care.
The rich and powerful. Raging Grannies work to expose corruption in both ‘public’
and ‘private’ realms, targeting everything from ‘corporate
greed’ to ‘unaccountable politicians.’
Internet: numerous websites; an email list-serve (The Granny E-Vine).
Print: a newsletter (The Granny Grapevine); flyers at protests.
Audio: appear on Nonviolent Warriors: Dave Dellinger and the Power of the
People.
Usually deferential. Coverage can range from ‘objective’ and serious
(“[t]hey sang a song… but they also brought a message”)(5)
to sympathetic (“the Raging Grannies aim to promote global peace“)6
and humorous (when depicted as cartoon character activists). Insulting or condescending
representations appear mostly in editorials (“once Hussein hears the Grannies’
off key singing, he may withdraw to avoid further punishment”).(7) Roy
observes that the Raging Grannies depend on the mass media in order to
“broadcast their concerns to an audience much wider than their actions
can reach directly.”(8) Their humorous and spirited actions have, for
the most part, successfully established a space in the mass media, from which
the Grannies “[promote] dialogue and [raise] consciousness by stimulating
political debates.”(9)
1. Education - Street theatre (satirical songs often written by changing lyrics
of
well known songs, dressing up in attention drawing attire) and flyering.
2. Direct Action - Singing or staging other symbolic actions in public places
“where we are not invited.”10 Often involves disrupting parties
and hearings.
3. Playing the system - letter writing and petitioning.
1. Offering an Un-Valentine to MP, Pat Crofton
When: February, 1987
What: The first Raging Grannies action took place in Victoria, BC. The Grannies
offered MP, Pat Crofton a giant broken heart, symbolizing his lack of commitment
to anti-nuclear issues. Satirical lyrics are tested out for the first time,
while the activists “crouched under umbrellas full of holes, symbolizing
the
absurdity of sheltering under a nuclear umbrella.”(11)
Effects: The action is well
received by the public. The Grannies realize the potential of satire and theatre.
2. Anti-war mall demonstration
When: December, 2003
What: The Raging Grannies protest “toys, games and videos that encourage
violence” at local malls throughout Canada. Dressed in neon orange tee-shirts
that sported the slogan “Violent Toys, Violent Videos, Don’t Buy
Them”, they engage crowds with anti-war songs. In one Toys-R-Us outlet,
the Grannies
report that they performed a “concentrated action (all of us together)
parading up and down the aisles… while many parents applauded and the
security people frantically tried to herd all ten of us toward the door as we
kept turning the wrong way, singing loudly.” (12)
Effects: Security guards threaten to expel the Grannies and in some cases do.
3. Disruption of the B.C.
legislature
When: October, 2002
What: Seven members of the Raging Grannies disrupt questioning period, chanting
“affordable health care for everyone.”
Effects: They were ejected and banned from the legislature building, but not
permanently. The local media covers the action, stating “[t]he women said
they are concerned about the government's health, education and social programs.”(13)
4. Anti-Stephen Harper
Petition
When: June, 2004
What: The Raging Grannies present an on-line petition at a press conference
held at the Famous Five monument, Ottawa, containing 5,000 signatures. The petition
is part of a letter that warns voters of the neo-liberal agenda of the Progressive
Conservative party and its leader, Stephen Harper. The petition, which is actually
a scroll, was unrolled on the grass.
Effects: The Grannies conclude that the action was a success: “No doubt
we
swayed the vote. The Conservatives lost, didn't they?”(14)
The New York and Boston chapters are affiliated with The Women’s International
League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF). Various Raging Grannies chapters have
in the past and continue to enter into
temporary, short term ‘alliances’ with activist groups (i.e. ECOWAR)
and other non-partisan grassroots organizations (i.e. the Council of Canadians).
The practice of joining others in protest is a familiar one for the Grannies.
C. Roy, The Raging Grannies: Wild Hats, Cheeky Songs, & Witty Actions for
a
Better World, (Montreal: Black Rose Books, 2004)
C. Roy, “The Original Raging Grannies: Using Creative and Humorous Protests
for Political Education.” Available at:
http://www.oise.utoronto.ca/CASAE/cnf2002/2002_Papers/roy_c2002w.pdf
C. Roy, “Raging Grannies and Environmental Issues: Humour and Creativity
in
Educative Protests.” Convergence 2000 v. 33 (4), 6-18.
A. Acker & B. Brightwell, Off Our Rockers and Into Trouble: The Raging
Grannies, (Heritage House Publishing, 2004).
H. Brown & J. McLaren, Raging Grannies Songbook, (Gabriola Island, B.C.:
New
Society Publishers, 1993).
The Granny Grapevine can be located at:
http://www.geocities.com/raginggrannies/gvcover.html
1 C. Roy, “The Original Raging Grannies: Using Creative and Humorous Protests
for Political
Education.” (2002). Available at:
http://www.oise.utoronto.ca/CASAE/cnf2002/2002_Papers/roy_c2002w.pdf
2 “Historical Raging Grannies”. Available at: http://clubweb.interbaun.com/grannies/rghistory.htm
3 Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform, “Presentation Summary:
Penticton Public Hearing
Dated 23 June 2004 at Penticton Lakeside Resort.” (2004). Available at:
http://www.citizensassembly.bc.ca/resources/penticton_presentations/Robinson.pdf
4 C. Roy, “The Original Raging Grannies: Using Creative and Humorous Protests
for Political
Education.”
5 “Health leaders try to heal system.” CBC. (November 27, 2001).
Available at:
http://stjohns.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=nf_health011127
6 L. B. Liu, “Get up and growl: Rochester's Raging Grannies are taking
center stage in local social
justice protests.” Democrat and Chronicle. (November 12, 2003). Available
at:
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/news/1112882B4IB_grannies04_news.shtml
7 G. A. Rodger, "Anti-Saddam Weapon." Letter to the Editor. Times-Colonist
(January 30, 1991):
A4.
8 C. Roy, “Raging Grannies and Environmental Issues: Humour and Creativity
in Educative
Protests.” Convergence, 2000, v. 33 (4).
9 C. Roy, “The Original Raging Grannies: Using Creative and Humorous Protests
for Political
Education.”
10 “Events”. Available at: http://www.raginggrannies.com/
11 C. Roy, “The Original Raging Grannies: Using Creative and Humorous
Protests for Political
Education.”
12 F. Thoburn, “Victoria Raging Grannies.” Grannies’ Grapevine
(Winter 2004): 11.
13 “Raging Grannies disrupt B.C. legislature.” (October 10, 2002).
Available at:
http://www.creativeresistance.ca/watch/2002-oct10-raging-grannies-disrupt-bc-legislature.htm
14 Grannie Pat, “Anti-Stephen Harper Petition - Parliament Hill Mob Gig.”
(June 25, 2004).
Available at: http://www.ottawagrans.net/Pat3.html