Battle-axe (woman)
Archetypal virago
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A battle-axe is a derogatory traditional stereotype describing a woman characterized as aggressive, overbearing and forceful. The term originated as a gender-independent descriptor in the early 20th century, but became primarily applied to women around the middle of the century.[1]
The prime example was the militant temperance activist Carrie Nation, who actually wielded a hatchet and made it her symbol, living in Hatchet Hall and publishing a magazine called The Hatchet. She became involved in the suffragette campaign for votes for women and this campaign further established the archetype.[2][1][3]
The battleaxe is one of several stereotypes found in nursing – a tyrannical, fierce matron exemplified by Nurse Ratched or Hattie Jacques in popular medical dramas and comedies.[4] Judith Furse played a "battle-axe woman" in the film Carry On Cabby.[5]
Another example of the battleaxe in popular culture is in soap operas, for which the "quintessential archetype"[6] was Violet Carson, who played Ena Sharples in the world's longest-running television soap opera,[7] Coronation Street.
