Margaret Fay Shaw’s photographs of the women of South Uist – Canna House

Margaret Fay Shaw’s photographs and writings offer a unique glimpse into the lives of the women of South Uist in the middle of the 20th century. While the photographs are Margaret’s creations, the songs and stories recorded in her book Folksongs and Folklore of South Uist come directly from the women she photographed. What can these songs tell us about them and their position within their community? How does this compare with Margaret’s portrayal of them?

The songs and stories in Folksongs and Folklore mention only four women by name: the Virgin Mary, Flora MacDonald, Queen Victoria and, most tellingly, St Bride. In the Gaelic tradition, St Bride was miraculously transported to Bethlehem to act as midwife to the Virgin Mary. She is also specifically linked to South Uist, coming to shore on the island with an oystercatcher (known as Gille Brighde or ‘Servants of St Bride’ in Gaelic) on each of her wrists. As such, she is a decidedly local icon, and emblematic of both girlhood and maternity. The importance of these traditional roles to the people of South Uist is reiterated throughout Folksongs and Folklore: half the references to women concern mothers and wives, while a further quarter deal with girls and maidens.

These standardised types seem to suggest that women’s experiences and activities were highly restricted by their gender. Furthermore, a large proportion of Folksongs and Folklore is dedicated to waulking songs. Waulking is a central process in the production of homespun cloth and was practised exclusively by women. This equation of women with the ‘soft’ work of making textiles reiterates their inherently domestic position in their communities.

However, the reality as revealed by Margaret’s photographs is extremely different. Life on South Uist was precarious, and required constant work. Women certainly did fulfil the traditional roles of wife and mother, but this was far from their only duty. They were required to take part in farming to produce food, and to undertake a number of physical tasks to maintain their land and homes. Some, like Margaret’s hosts the MacRae sisters, also supported themselves with jobs in domestic service.