Paper short abstract:

In this paper I explore representations of gender transgressions in 19th century traditional sources (folk tales, legends etc.) to build a picture of what constituted queerness in rural Iceland during a period when modern ideas of sexuality were still emerging on the mainland of Europe.

Paper long abstract:

The late 19th century was a time of social upheaval in Iceland, like elsewhere in Europe. The traditional agricultural society was gradually being undermined by increased migration to towns and cities, as agricultural workers sought better opportunities and life conditions in emerging urban communities. During uncertain times, Icelanders sought solace in the simple life of their forefathers and there was an increasing interest in the old agricultural society. Tales of strange characters from the 18th and early 19th centuries became increasingly popular among publishers and folklore enthusiasts. These included the stories of which provide us a glimpse of gender transgression among 18th and 19th century women and people categorized as women by the authors.

In this paper I present different representations of gender transgressions in these stories. These include cross-dressing sailor women, “mannish” agricultural workers, women who “fathered” other women’s children and numerous women who went under the nicknames “horny” or “man”. I explore the historical contexts of these texts and how we can use them to build a picture of what constituted queerness among women in a marginal society during a period when modern ideas of sexuality were still being introduced in Europe and had yet to reach the continent’s northern peripheries.