Crowd-sourcing question: Historical context for "Shameless Agitator"?

[capri0mni]

When I was a Teen, and in my early 20s (~1980s), and Mother and I would attend politically / protest-oriented events, a common phrase we'd see printed on tee-shirts was "Shameless Agitator."

And I got to wondering: is there a specific historical context for this phrase? Was it a common epithet thrown around in newspapers to refer to Suffragettes, for example? Or labor leaders? Can it be traced back to a particular quote?

Bit of random, personal trivia: Once, one of us (either it was I, or my mother, who then shared with me), misread one of those shirts as "Shameless Alligator," which then became a running joke between us until the end of her life. That memory recently came back to me, and that's what's gotten me curious about this...

Comments

[jekesta]

I love the idea of a shameless alligator!

[capri0mni]

Yes. So do I / did we.

(working on a Zazzle design of that idea, right now... which is kind of why I'd like the context, so I could write it into the description)

[pebblerocker]

I misread the phrase as "Shameless Alligator" the first and second time you used it, before reading about your misreading! It's a lovely image.

[capri0mni]

Oh, good. It's not just me, then...

[chasingrainbows]

I think I would like to be a shameless alligator.

[capri0mni]

wouldn't we all?

[jesse_the_k]

This comment is based on zero historical/Google research and 100% my memory (a jelly-like resource at best).

I think it's the result of a snark chain.

It starts with shameless hussy, an expression of scorn for those women too bold to give a flying fuck about male-pattern sexuality standards. Having encountered this epithet too often, some nameless alligator says, I'm a shameless agitator, highlighting the activity they're proud of.

[capri0mni]

Okay, thanks! You win the *First Answer* prize (which is a grin on my face).

And now, an opinion question: I'm doing a "Shameless Alligator" shirt, with hand "fat / outline" lettering. Should I strike-out "Alligator" and add Agitator below (my design centers on a picture of an Alligator)? Or just leave it as Alligator?

[jesse_the_k]

I advocate leaving it as "Alligator" and the solution as a puzzle to the reader.

[capri0mni]

Well, after writing out my dilemma, I realized I could do two versions: one, fixed typo, and the other, a puzzling typo.

So that's what I'm doing.

After all, as my father used to say: that's why they make chocolate and vanilla.