Merched Cymru/Welsh women

Sheltering from an unexpected snowstorm while waiting for a bus that never came, my eye was caught by this basketful of traditionally-dressed Welsh dolls.  I've called them Merched Cymru: Welsh women. However, as was pointed out on my recent sign blip merched also means daughters, so - women, or daughters, of Wales?

All women are daughters of course (of other women) but is it infantilising to use the same word for both? Men aren't referred to as meibion (sons) unless their parentage is relevant. Several comments agreed that the use of 'polite' terminology can be demeaning and patronising. When I worked in mental health I would squirm to hear nurses describe patients as gentlemen or ladies rather than men and women. Equally, consultants would often refer to female patients as girls, old girls or even 'girlies' - grrr!

Anyway, these Welsh women in their flannel skirts, shawls, pinnies (aprons) and tall hats brought several associations to my mind.

1.The costume was noted by travellers to Wales in the late 18th century, and in the 19th century was promoted by an industrialist's wife, Lady Llanover, as the national dress for women. (Although English she sought to preserve Welsh culture and language and also compiled a Welsh cookery book.)

2.  In 1797  a French invasion force landed on the coast west of Fishguard. French soldiers swarmed ashore and attacked local farms supposedly prior to initiating a rising against the English. According to popular legend, a female cobbler named Jemima Nicholas  gathered a bunch of other women and they walked around and around a hill in sight of the French who mistook them, in their red skirts and black hats, for British soldiers, and promptly surrendered.

3.  In the 1840s, protests against the tolls levied on roads in South Wales turned to riots. The rioters, local men,  mostly farmers, disguised themselves in women's clothing to attack the tollgates and they were known as Merched Beca, Daughters of Rebecca - possibly from a Biblical reference. Here in Pembrokeshire the Rebeccas were especially active. Some were eventually rounded up and a few were transported - others were never identified.

4. Today the costume is worn at tourist attractions, national celebrations, and so on but it's also the custom for primary school children to dress up for Gwyl Dewi/St David's Day, March 1st. Little girls go to school wearing the full rig so as  to look enchanting with their white mob caps peeping from under their black cardboard hats. As the mother of sons I never had to rustle up this gear. The fact is, there is no Welsh national costume for men: small boys go to school on St David's day dressed either as farmers (tweed cap and waistcoat, shirt, corduroy trousers) or as Rugby players. Who are the winners here?