I did a post yesterday with hints on how to be a helpless female in 1890.
It was very amusing to read the tactics outlined by R. J. Burdette (a man) in order to ensure a life of leisure.

The Daily News 14 Apr 1936 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article84222953
This article about a woman pirate is from the opposite end of the spectrum. I really doubt that Miss Sue Nakawura would have had much time for such a helpless, coddled woman.
I love her story, going from the life of an 18 year old school teacher from a respectable home in Japan to the mistress of a pirate chief.
I can just imagine her daydreaming during the lessons, wishing for a more exciting life. Unlike most people, she then went off and found one!
First she eloped with a travelling salesman, but obviously that life wasn’t exciting enough for her and she soon transferred her affections to a Formosan pirate chief.
Once she hitched up with Chen Pao-lin, she quickly showed an aptitude for piracy and became an expert marksman, winning the respect of the other bucaneers.
I wonder what an aptitude for piracy is? Saying “arrrr, me hearties” a lot?
Clearly she was pretty good at counting dubloons as she became chief booty distributor. Maybe she had been an accounting teacher?
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