Stories of Resistance and Oppression: Baby Doll and Dame Lorraine*

Abstract

This chapter deals with an important period in the history of the Carnival especially as it relates to the participation of women. During the 19th century and into the 20th two 'ole mas' female characters played important roles in the festivities.These characters, now called 'traditional', have largely disappeared from Carnival Tuesday but still play prominent roles in J'ouvay Monday and they are also remembered in the various theatricals that take place during the Carnival period.The role of gender inearlier periods of history and the development of what are now called 'traditional' characters playing the 'mas' will be explored.