Women in a Man's World:
The Stories of Anne Bonny and Mary Read
One of the most infamous scenes of Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean attractions saw guests sail past a pirate auction. This may sound unremarkable, until one realises that the prizes being sold were not loot or liquor, but women! As the auctioneer described the wenches, a gaggle of lustful, drunken pirates could be heard yelling back the now infamous line: “We wants the Redhead!”. The lady in question was, predictably, a redhead, dressed all in red, and became one of the ride’s most well-known characters. However, as time passed the scene came to be seen as somewhat outdated. Whilst the gender roles on display here may be typical of eighteenth-century piracy, the misogynistic undertones and lack of a strong female character throughout the whole ride caused Disney to change the scene in recent years. Rather than being a helpless trafficking victim, in the updated versions the Redhead has been empowered and is now an active member of the pirate crew, overseeing the auction of the town’s loot herself. Whilst the change has doubtlessly made the attraction more politically correct, the addition of a female pirate does beg the question: is this historically accurate? The short answer to this is…kind of. The long answer is…longer. So, for a more complete picture of women at sea and the full story of two fiery female pirates called Anne Bonny and Mary Read, I’m afraid you’re going to have to read on.
"The Redhead", as seen in the older versions of the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction.
"Redd" in the updated version of the attraction.
It was widely believed that the sea was no place for a woman. Life on the ocean in any capacity was a dangerous way to live, and it was thought that women should keep their feet firmly on land, playing a more domestic role instead. Women were even banned outright from being onboard many ships, as seamen were wary that the presence of a woman would promote jealousies amongst the crew, and the more superstitious amongst them were often convinced that females brought bad luck on the vessel.
In spite of such obstacles, many women still managed to go to sea. Some travelled as passengers, but a surprising number succeeded in concealing their gender with loose fitting clothes and worked as sailors. Many women managed to pass themselves off for years in the navy as teenage boys, proving themselves just as capable as their male shipmates. Nevertheless, very few women decided to sail the seas under the black flag — female pirates were very rare. Many pirate ships had rules that forbade women and children being onboard, and anyone who defied these laws could be killed as punishment (for more about pirate rules, click here).
A Man's World?
This is not to say that there were no female pirates at all. Indeed, Anne Bonny and Mary Read are two of the most famous pirates in history. This dangerous double act roved the waves of the Caribbean in 1720 aboard the ship of Captain Jack “Calico” Rackam, proving themselves as fearsome pirates as they fought in battle alongside the rest of the crew. For Anne, her role in piracy began in 1719 when she caught the eye of pirate Jack Rackam, who persuaded her to leave her husband and sail away with him. Dressed in men’s clothing, Bonny deceived the rest of the crew whilst also becoming Rackam’s lover. She soon became pregnant and had their child in Cuba. Upon rejoining the crew, Bonny met her infamous companion Mary Read, who had been captured by Rackam whilst sailing on a merchant ship. Like Anne, Mary also dressed as a man, and after sharing their true identities with each other, the pair became firm friends. The trio of Rackam, Bonny and Read did not adventure together for long though. In November 1720, their ship was captured by privateer Captain Jonathan Barnet. Rackam and his crew quickly surrendered, with the only resistance coming from Bonny and Read who angrily condemned their cowardly shipmates.
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Anne Bonny and Mary Read
Illustration of Anne Bonny in male pirate dress.
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Illustration of Mary Read dressed as a male pirate.
The stories of Anne Bonny and Mary Read serve to illustrate that, although the history of piracy is understandably dominated by men, women did play a significant role in this period too. The pair proved themselves to be the bravest members of their entire crew, and should not be left out of our understandings of history just because they were a minority. Circling back to Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean attractions then, the inclusion of “Redd” is a positive change, recognising women as important historical actors that had an active role in eighteenth-century piracy despite the many barriers in their way.
Putting Women Back into History
Title page of the printed transcript of the trial of Captain Jack Rackam and his crew.
The male members of the crew were swiftly tried for piracy and sentenced to death. Legend has it that before Rackam was executed, a disgusted Bonny told him: “If you had fought like a man, you needn’t have to die like a dog.” His body was hung from a gibbet as an example to other pirates. A few days later, Anne and Mary were also found guilty and received death sentences. However, the dynamic duo still had a final ace up their sleeves, as they chose this moment to inform the court that they were both pregnant, giving them a stay of execution. Unfortunately, that is the closest to a happy ending their story gets. Soon after the trial Mary contracted fever, dying in prison the following year. As for Anne, it is unknown what happened to her or her child.
The Trial
