Haywood, Big Bill, and Industrial Workers Of The World. “The Rebel Girl.” composed by Hill, Joe, Lyricist [Chicago, Ill.?: Wm. D. Haywood?, Chicago, Ill.: Rayner Dalheim & Co., Music Printers & Engravers, 1915] Notated Music. https://www.loc.gov/item/2017562126/
The song provides an opportunity to introduce students to the early twentieth-century labor movement, especially the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). Students can explore key events like the Lawrence Textile Strike (1912) and the role of radical labor unions in shaping labor laws and workers’ rights. The song exemplifies the IWW’s commitment to direct action and worker solidarity. This can serve as a starting point for students to discuss the evolution of labor unions in the U.S. and the ongoing struggle for fair wages and working conditions. "The Rebel Girl" celebrates Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, a pioneering female leader in the labor movement. By analyzing the song and its lyrics, students can discuss the intersection of gender and activism, exploring the unique challenges faced by women in the labor movement and their contributions to social justice. The song provides a powerful example of how women’s leadership has shaped social and political movements, making it a great resource for gender studies, especially when discussing women's rights and their role in shaping history.
"The Rebel Girl" is a song written by Joe Hill in 1915, celebrating Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, a prominent labor activist and leader of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). The song praises Flynn's leadership in the labor movement, particularly her efforts in organizing workers and advocating for women's rights during a time of intense social and economic change in the early 20th century.
The lyrics emphasize Flynn's courage, intelligence, and commitment to social justice, portraying her as a symbol of resistance against capitalist exploitation and gender inequality. Hill wrote the song as a tribute to Flynn’s revolutionary spirit and role in the IWW, which sought to unite workers across all industries and challenge oppressive working conditions.
As a primary source, "The Rebel Girl" serves as both a historical document and a piece of activist music that played a crucial role in motivating and uniting workers. The song reflects the broader themes of solidarity, empowerment, and revolutionary action, making it an enduring anthem for labor movements, feminist struggles, and social justice causes.
The song remains significant today, offering insight into the history of labor activism, the fight for women's rights, and the power of music to inspire social change.
“The Rebel Girl" song is one of the most iconic pieces of labor movement music and is closely associated with Elizabeth Gurley Flynn and the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). Written in 1915 by Joe Hill, a labor activist, songwriter, and member of the IWW, the song was a tribute to Flynn’s leadership and her role in the IWW’s efforts to organize industrial workers and fight for labor rights. The IWW, or "Wobblies," was a radical labor union founded in 1905 that sought to organize workers across industries and fight for revolutionary change in the workplace. The union was distinctive for its inclusive stance, organizing workers of all races, genders, and skill levels into a single industrial union, advocating for direct action, strikes, and social change. The IWW's militant approach was often viewed with hostility by business owners, the government, and even other, more conservative labor unions. Despite the backlash, the IWW played a key role in labor strikes and movements in the early twentieth century. Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, whom the song celebrates, was one of the most important and charismatic leaders of the IWW. Known as the "The Rebel Girl," she became an emblematic figure in the labor movement due to her radical advocacy for workers’ rights and her outspoken support for women’s liberation and gender equality.
- What was the role of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) in the early twentieth century labor movement?
- What qualities of Elizabeth Gurley Flynn made her an influential leader in the labor movement?
- Why was Elizabeth Gurley Flynn known as "The Rebel Girl," and what does that nickname signify?
- How does the song reflect themes of gender equality and empowerment?
Ohio Learning Standards for Social Studies
Grade 8 - American History, Standard 1: Early Settlement to the Civil War and Standard 2: Civil War and Reconstruction: Use primary and secondary sources to examine the historical context of events.
- Students can analyze "The Rebel Girl" as a primary source, investigating its historical context in the labor movement and the IWW's role in early twentieth-century activism.
- While Flynn's activism took place later in US history, understanding labor movements and civil rights issues often requires tracing historical struggles that began in the nineteenth century.
Grade 9–12 - American History, Standard 9: Social Movements in the 20th Century: Analyze the role of social and political movements in the United States and their impact on American society.
- This can include exploring the influence of labor movements like the IWW and the ways in which they shaped labor laws and workers' rights.
- Flynn and the IWW were at the forefront of social movements in the early twentieth century. “The Rebel Girl" song offers insight into labor and women's movements of the time, making it relevant for high school students learning about the social movements of the twentieth century.
Grade 10–12 - American Government and Civics, SS.9-12.C.2: Explain the role of citizens in American democracy and how they can influence government through civic engagement, political participation, and social movements.
- Flynn’s activism and the broader labor movement can be used to discuss how grassroots movements, including unionism and feminism, influenced American policies, workplace rights, and gender equality.
- One effective teaching approach is to pair the song with photographs of Elizabeth Gurley Flynn and images from labor strikes, such as the Lawrence Textile Strike (1912). These visual materials provide students with concrete images of the labor movement and figures like Flynn, allowing them to analyze how these photos complement the song’s lyrics. For example, students can examine a photograph of Flynn alongside the lyrics to "The Rebel Girl" to understand how the visual representation of her leadership reflects the qualities celebrated in the song, such as bravery and defiance. They might also look at historical strike photos to discuss the dire conditions that workers faced, which Flynn and the IWW fought against, deepening their understanding of the song's message of solidarity and social change.
- Pairing the song with IWW pamphlets or posters from the early twentieth century further enriches the lesson. Students can explore IWW literature to compare the rhetoric in the pamphlets with the song’s lyrics. This allows them to better understand the language of resistance used by the IWW and its alignment with the radical activism of figures like Flynn. Students can then analyze how both the song and the pamphlets aimed to inspire action and unity among workers, emphasizing the IWW's philosophy of direct action and its inclusivity in advocating for both workers’ rights and gender equality.
- Incorporating documentary films such as "The Wobblies" (1979) or "American Experience: The Fight" (PBS) can enhance students’ understanding of labor movements and the social changes that occurred during the early twentieth century. These films document the struggles of workers and their efforts to secure rights and protections, offering a visual complement to the song. By watching key excerpts, students can better grasp the broader historical context of labor strikes, such as the Lawrence Textile Strike, and explore the ways in which Flynn’s activism was part of a larger wave of resistance. The documentaries provide students with a deeper emotional connection to the historical figures and events associated with the song, encouraging them to reflect on how activism was documented and remembered in the media.
- When using "The Rebel Girl" and the related primary sources in the classroom, there are several potential challenges that educators and families may encounter. These challenges may be related to content complexity, historical context, or the emotional and ideological nature of the sources. The themes of class struggle, gender inequality, and radical activism presented in "The Rebel Girl" and related sources might be emotionally charged for students, especially those unfamiliar with labor history or social justice movements. Discussions of exploitation, poverty, and rebellion may evoke strong emotional reactions, particularly if students identify with the experiences of the workers or women depicted. The historical context of the early twentieth-century labor movement may be difficult for some students to grasp, especially if they are not familiar with concepts like industrialization, socialism, or anarchism. The political language and ideologies in sources related to the IWW can also be complex, and students might struggle to understand the significance of figures like Elizabeth Gurley Flynn and the Wobblies.
Links to resources for approaching those topics
- Library of Congress - Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) and Labor History. The Library of Congress offers a variety of primary sources, including photographs, newspapers, and pamphlets from the IWW and labor history collections. These materials provide rich historical context for discussing early twentieth-century labor movements and activism. Industrial Workers of the World Collection. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. Accessed December 26, 2024. https://www.loc.gov/collections/industrial-workers-of-the-world-organization-papers/
- National Women's History Museum - Elizabeth Gurley Flynn. This site provides a detailed biography of Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, a key figure in the IWW and labor movements. It includes historical context, her activism for women's rights, and her role in labor organizing. National Women's History Museum. "Elizabeth Gurley Flynn." Accessed December 26, 2024. https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/elizabeth-gurley-flynn
- Photograph of Elizabeth Gurley Flynn (c. 1915)
- This iconic photograph of Elizabeth Gurley Flynn can be paired with "The Rebel Girl" to visually explore her impact on the labor movement. The image captures Flynn in a confident pose, reflecting the defiant spirit celebrated in the song.
- "Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, Labor Leader." Photograph. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, LC-USZ62-115597.
- “The Weekly Nome Industrial Worker” is a newspaper from Nome, AK, and was published by a local union. It is a valuable primary source that would go far to explain different trials workers faced and different meetings put together to strengthen their unions.
- The Rebel Girl: An Autobiography, My First Life. New York: International Publishers, 1973. This autobiography of Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, the subject of "The Rebel Girl," provides her personal perspective on her life as an activist, labor organizer, and feminist. It's a key text for understanding her contributions to the labor movement and women’s rights.
- "IWW Songbook" (1916). This is a collection of songs published by the Industrial Workers of the World that served as anthems for workers' rights and solidarity. It includes many labor songs written by Joe Hill, including "The Rebel Girl." The songs represent a powerful way to understand the role of music in the labor movement and activism. Industrial Workers of the World. IWW Songbook. Chicago: Industrial Workers of the World, 1916.
- Hill, Joe. Songs of Protest: Joe Hill and the IWW. Edited by Alan Wald. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1988. This collection includes a range of Joe Hill’s labor songs, including "The Rebel Girl." The text provides insight into Hill's role in the IWW and his use of music as a tool for activism, making it an invaluable resource for exploring the relationship between music and social change in labor movements.