Portreadau o fenywod yng nghartwnau Papur Pawb yn ystod cyfnod Streic Fawr y Penrhyn, 1900–1903 (Portrayals of women in the cartoons of Papur Pawb during the period of the Great Penrhyn Strike, 1900–1903)

This article examines the representation of women during the Great Penrhyn Strike (1900–03), one of the most significant industrial disputes in the history of the labour movement in Wales. Through an analysis of a selection of cartoons by J. R. Lloyd Hughes, published in Papur Pawb, the article explores how the local press constructed and reinforced complex images of women within the context of industrial conflict and social change.

The discussion focuses on three main categories of representation: the Silent Sufferers, who reflect traditional expectations of women as passive and domestic figures; the cultural characters Jenny and Shan, who served as satirical voices and at times challenged prevailing gender norms; and the Campaigners, active and vocal women depicted as directly participating in protests and confrontations. These archetypes highlight the symbolic and political roles assigned to women and demonstrate how visual media shaped public perceptions of their position during the strike.

The cartoons are situated within the wider social and political context of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, paying particular attention to intersections of imperialism, Welshness, class and gender. Building on the work of scholars such as Peter Lord and Chris Williams, the article argues that these visual sources are crucial for understanding not only women’s experiences and agency, but also the ways in which industrial disputes were linked to broader debates about national and cultural identity in Wales. In doing so, the article contributes both to Welsh women’s history and to the growing field of visual culture studies.