Protest Pots And Pans: The Why And How

The use of pots and pans as a form of protest has a long history, dating back to at least the 19th century when French women banged pots and pans outside their Paris homes to protest economic conditions and food shortages. This type of protest, known as a cacerolazo or cassolada in Latin America, gained prominence in the 1970s as conservative women in Chile used it to oppose the election of Marxist President Salvador Allende. The practice has since spread worldwide, with people using kitchen equipment to express their anger and dissent. In recent times, it has been used in countries like Brazil, France, Lebanon, and Myanmar, where people have protested against various issues such as government policies, economic crises, and political corruption.

Cacerolazo, a Latin American protest

Cacerolazo, a form of popular protest, involves a group of people making noise by banging on pots, pans, and other utensils to call for attention. The word comes from the Spanish word "cacerola", meaning "stew pot", and the suffixes "-azo" and "-ada" denote a hitting action. This protest style first occurred in France in the 1830s when opponents of the regime of Louis Philippe I of France borrowed from the medieval charivari tradition of using noise to express disapproval. In the following decades, this type of protest became almost exclusive to South America, with Chile being the first country in the region to adopt it in 1971 against food shortages. Since then, it has spread to other Latin American countries and has become a legitimate form of protest in the region and beyond.

One of the largest cacerolazos took place in Argentina in 2001, where middle-class protesters took to the streets after their savings were trapped by restrictive economic measures that froze bank accounts. The protests later turned violent, with spray-painting, broken windows, and occupied buildings. The Argentine government decided against a forceful approach to avoid further unrest. Cacerolazos have also been observed in other countries, such as Spain, the Netherlands, and Brazil, where they are known as "panelaços".

The versatility and neutrality of cacerolazos have contributed to their popularity as a form of protest. They are auditory and visual demonstrations of discontent, making it difficult for officials to ignore them. Additionally, cacerolazos allow people to protest from the comfort of their homes, balconies, or neighbourhoods, including those who may be unable or unwilling to participate in traditional street protests. This was particularly significant during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Brazilians used cacerolazos to protest against President Jair Bolsonaro's handling of the crisis.

Cacerolazos have also been used in other parts of the world, such as Canada, where they are called "casseroles", and the Philippines, where similar protests are known as "noise barrages". In 2019, during the mass protests in Lebanon, people banged pots and pans from their balconies and integrated this technique into street protests as well. Cacerolazos have become a global phenomenon, crossing cultural and linguistic boundaries to become a powerful tool for people to express their dissatisfaction and demand change.

Pots and pans as symbols of femininity

Pots and pans have been used as tools of protest since at least the 19th century, when French women banged pots and pans outside their Paris homes to protest economic conditions and food shortages. In the 1830s, pots and pans were used in France to protest the July Monarchy of Louis Philippe I. This tradition of using pots and pans to express disapproval of the government became known as "cacerolazo" or "cacerolada".

While the use of pots and pans as a form of protest has a long history, their association with femininity is more recent. In Chile in the 1970s, conservative women used the banging of pots and pans to oppose the election of Marxist President Salvador Allende. According to Margaret Power, a professor of Latin American history, "It was an ideal tool for women because the pots symbolized their femininity... It was a way that somebody could stay within their home or their neighbourhood at a time when women's lives were a bit more controlled."

The use of pots and pans as a symbol of femininity can be understood in the context of traditional gender roles that associate women with domesticity and household management. In the 1940s and 1950s, advertisements often depicted women in aprons, reinforcing the idea of the housewife and mother as the universal model of womanhood. The apron became a symbol of feminine domesticity and the performance of tedious and repetitive household chores.

However, the use of pots and pans as a protest tool can also be seen as a subversion of traditional gender roles and a way for women to express their power and independence. By adopting this form of protest, women were able to make their voices heard while remaining within the confines of their homes or neighbourhoods.

In conclusion, the use of pots and pans as a symbol of femininity is complex and multifaceted. On the one hand, it draws on traditional associations between women and domesticity. On the other hand, it can be seen as a way for women to express their power and independence by adopting a form of protest that is accessible and familiar.

Pots and pans as symbols of food shortages

Pots and pans have been used as a form of protest against food shortages and other issues for almost two centuries. The first recorded instance of this style of protest took place in France in the 1830s, during the July Monarchy, when opponents of King Louis-Philippe I took to the streets with their kitchenware to express their disapproval of his regime.

The use of pots and pans as a symbol of protest against food shortages, in particular, gained prominence in the 1970s in Chile. The country's first female president, Salvador Allende, was facing shortages in foodstuffs and other consumer goods, which were caused in part by conservative entrepreneurs and businessmen who withheld goods to purposefully destabilise the economy. To symbolise the lack of food available and the growing black market, women took to the streets with empty pots, beating on them to represent their struggles. This form of protest, known as "cacerolazo" in Spanish, became a powerful symbol of conservative protests against the Allende government and continued well into 1973.

The "cacerolazo" protests in Chile set a precedent for the use of pots and pans as a symbol of food shortages and economic uncertainty. In 2019, protesters in Lebanon took to banging pots and pans from their balconies and during street protests to express their anger over years of political corruption and economic instability. Similarly, in 2023, protesters in Kenya used empty pots as a symbol of their cost-of-living protest, as well as a way to make noise and draw attention to their cause.

The use of pots and pans as a form of protest has proven to be a versatile and effective tool for people to express their discontent and has been adopted by movements around the world.

Pots and pans as a way to protest from home

Protesting with pots and pans has a long history, stretching back to at least the 19th century. The practice is often associated with celebration, but it has also been used as a tool for protest around the world. People have taken to banging kitchenware as a way to express dissent, with the noisy practice allowing them to sound their disapproval from their homes or balconies.

A time-honoured tradition

The use of pots and pans as a form of protest, known as a "cacerolazo" or "cacerolada" in Latin America, dates back to at least the 1830s in France. It is believed to have originated as a way for villagers to humiliate ill-matched marriages, particularly between a widower and a much younger bride. The tradition then took on a political dimension when it was used by opponents of the July Monarchy, who banged saucepans to express their disapproval of the regime of Louis Philippe I. This way of showing discontent became popular and sometimes involved thousands of participants.

A symbol of protest

The saucepan's double life as a symbol of protest took off in the 1950s and 60s, with supporters of the French far-right paramilitary group OAS using pot-bashing as a way to express their desire to keep Algeria French during the country's War of Independence. However, it was in Latin America where the ear-splitting tradition of mass "cacerolazos" truly took hold. The first major breakout was in Chile in 1971, with conservative women banging pots to protest food shortages and the election of Marxist President Salvador Allende.

A global phenomenon

Since its beginnings in France and Latin America, the use of pots and pans as a way to protest has spread across the globe. In recent years, it has been used in countries such as Myanmar, Canada, Kenya, Lebanon, and Brazil. In Myanmar, for example, the banging of pots and pans is believed to be a way to drive away evil spirits and has been used to protest against the military coup in 2021. In Brazil, millions of people expressed their anger at President Jair Bolsonaro's handling of the coronavirus pandemic by banging pots and pans on their balconies.

A powerful symbol

The use of pots and pans as a form of protest has endured due to its accessibility and powerful symbolism. As Margaret Power, a professor of Latin American history, explains, "It was an ideal tool for women because the pots symbolized their femininity. But it was also a statement about the lack of food...It was a way that somebody could stay within their home or their neighbourhood at a time when women's lives were a bit more controlled." The practice has evolved over time, crossing political and geographical boundaries, and continues to be a powerful form of protest for those who wish to make their voices heard without taking to the streets.

Pots and pans as a global phenomenon

The use of pots and pans as a form of protest has a long history, stretching back to at least the 19th century. The practice, known as a "cacerolazo" or "casseroles", has been used in various countries across the globe to express dissent and call for attention. People participating in these protests bang on pots, pans, and other kitchen utensils, often from their balconies or windows, to create loud, dissonant noises. This form of protest is particularly associated with Latin America, but it has also occurred in other parts of the world, including Europe, North America, and Asia.

Origins in France

The first documented protests involving the banging of pots and pans took place in France in the 1830s during the July Monarchy. Opponents of King Louis Philippe I, who had ascended the throne after the July Revolution, adopted this form of protest from the traditional charivari ritual, which involved making loud noises to express disapproval. The use of saucepans and other kitchen utensils as a symbol of protest in France may also hark back to a medieval ritual where villagers would seek to humiliate ill-matched marriages with a "concert of saucepans".

Latin America

The cacerolazo became prominent in Latin America, particularly in Chile, in the 1970s. Conservative women used this form of protest to oppose the election of Marxist President Salvador Allende. The pots and pans symbolised their femininity and the lack of food during a time of mass food shortages. The cacerolazo then spread across South America, including Argentina, where middle-class people protested against the freezing of their bank accounts during the 1998-2002 economic crisis. In Brazil, cacerolazos were used during the tenure of President Dilma Rousseff and, more recently, to protest against President Jair Bolsonaro's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Global Reach

The use of pots and pans as a form of protest has not been limited to France and Latin America. In 2019, nationwide protests erupted in Lebanon, with people banging on pots and kitchen utensils from their balconies and in street protests. In 2020, following the death of George Floyd and the imposition of curfews in some US cities, demonstrators in Washington, DC, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles participated in cacerolazos. During the 2023 French pension reform unrest, pots and pans protests were also reported in Nantes and other cities across France.

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