1919-04-12: (Bernadel’s Restraint and Women’s Refusal to Be Transformed — The Women’s Return to the Street and Bernadel’s Restraint Suggesting That When Poss…

1919-04-12: (Bernadel’s Restraint and Women’s Refusal to Be Transformed — The Women’s Return to the Street and Bernadel’s Restraint Suggesting That When Possible Women Refused to Be Transformed by the Paraphernalia of Militarized Authority, the Gendarmerie Enacting the Day-to-Day Will of the Occupation, Composed Largely of Haitian Working-Class and Peasant Men Trained to Fight Against the Citizenry — One of the Most Long-Lasting Legacies of the Occupation Period, Members Given a Small Wage Housing in Barracks and Classes in Literacy and Artillery, Their Relationship to the Nation Tenuous — Haitians Deeply Conflicted About the Gendarmerie’s Role): Bernadel’s punishment revealed the complexities of gender, social status, and the occupation’s authority over the streets. The women’s return and Bernadel’s restraint suggest that when possible, women refused to be transformed by the paraphernalia of militarized authority. The gendarmerie enacted the day-to-day will of the occupation — collecting vending taxes, settling disputes, attending to accidents, making arrests. Largely composed of Haitian nationals trained to fight against the citizenry and impose foreign laws, it was arguably one of the most long-lasting legacies of the occupation. Members were recruited from all sectors but the majority were working-class and peasant men, given a small wage, housing in barracks, and classes in literacy and artillery. Their relationship to the nation was tenuous — Haitians were deeply conflicted about the gendarmerie’s role.