'Allium Cepa’ - who'd have thought it

It seems astonishing to think that there was a time when women were barred from the vast majority of paid work. Even today it is clear that opportunities for women are limited by male dominated structures and misogynistic management. However, despite this, many women are able to succeed and legislation has prevented the more obvious discrimination.

This change did not come easily and many women in history have taken a stand to highlight the absurdity of sex-based discrimination. Today I have been reminded of one such woman.

The onion selling business in the UK was entirely dominated by ‘Onion Johnnies’ since they first arrived in 1828. Breton males would come over to England to sell their onions on the streets of the south and in particular the capital. A great range of ‘Allium Cepa’ were brought to London’s streets with varieties such as yellow, red and white selling particularly well.

In 1832, for the first time, a woman risked bringing her smaller and more delicate onions over. The unique sweet, peppery, garlic like flavours proved popular to the English palate much to the displeasure and anger of the male ‘Onion Johnnies’. They hounded her from the streets, ruined her product and tried to force her to return to France.

However, this woman was not to be intimidated and despite constant threats of violence and intimidation she stood her ground and finally broke the male hegemony. It was an astonishing stand and one that is remembered through her nom de guerre - ‘The Lady of Shallots’.