The Raging Grannies: Wild Hats, Cheeky Songs, and Witty Actions for a Better World

Margaret Kechnie is head of the Women’s Studies Program at Laurentian
University. She is the co-editor of Changing Lives: Women in Northern
Ontario, and the author of Organizing Rural Women: The Federating
Women's Institutes of Ontario, 1897–1919.

That women would act in an “unladylike” manner should not surprise
anyone, and the Raging Grannies do act outside the stereotypic role for
older middle-class women. The mission of these social activists 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.” Their activism reminds
readers of the political activities of Nellie McClung, who advocated
votes for women and wrote the outrageous satirical play The Parliament
of Women. From ancient times women have taken a stand against what they
perceived to be injustices to themselves and toward others. The Raging
Grannies are continuing that tradition. This book not only sheds light
on their motivation, but also reveals why they have been so successful
(they use humour to draw attention to the ineptness of government, the
indifference of large corporations, and society’s apathy to many
chronic social conditions).

Group members are notable for their distinct dress and demeanour (fancy
hats, white gloves, and a general mock-conservative attitude) and for
their use of humour to make their point (couching issues in the form of
a song set to a well-known tune to draw attention to their cause). The
group’s first act took place in Victoria, B.C., in 1987. Its target
was the local member of Parliament and chair of the Defence Committee
for his failure to take a stand against nuclear disarmament. It did not
take long before the group was winning converts and spawning other
groups across the country.

Carole Roy has done Canadians a service by drawing attention to this
group of women who are actively trying to create a better world.