The Hatpin Peril
A\xa0hatpin\xa0is a decorative and functional\xa0pin\xa0for holding a\xa0hat\xa0to the head, usually by the hair. In\xa0Western culture, hatpins are almost solely used by women and are often worn in a pair. They are typically around 20\xa0cm in length, with the pinhead being the most decorated part.
Hatpins were sometimes used by women to defend themselves against assault by men.
Laws were passed in 1908 in America that limited the length of hatpins, as there was a concern they might be used by\xa0suffragettes\xa0as weapons. Also by the 1910s, ordinances were passed requiring hatpin tips to be covered so as not to injure people accidentally.[1]\xa0Various covers were made, but poorer women often had to make do with\xa0ersatz\xa0items like potato pieces and cork.
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