Beyond Mourning: Widows, Subsistence Strategies, and Union Solidarity in the World of Railway Labour in Early Twentieth-Century Argentina

This article examines the survival strategies employed by the widows of railway workers in Argentina during the early twentieth century. Rather than portraying these women as passive recipients of assistance from trade unions or railway companies, this study highlights their active agency in securing financial support. Through petitions, legal claims, and persistent negotiations, widows sought compensation, pensions, or employment opportunities to sustain their households after the loss of their husbands, many of whom had died in work-related accidents. While railway companies often resisted granting compensation, widows strategically navigated bureaucratic and legal structures, sometimes leveraging union support or mobilizing collective solidarity. Their actions challenge conventional narratives of working-class women’s dependence, revealing instead a landscape of struggle, resilience, and negotiation. Ultimately, this study contributes to broader discussions on gender, labour, and social protection in industrializing Latin America. It sheds new light on how widows intervened and participated in the construction of union senses and practices of solidarity advocating for their rights in a male-dominated sphere.