HIS 2183A: Women in the Work Force, 1700-1990

 

This course examines women’s employment by highlighting the diverse experiences of Canadian women. Lectures, readings, and videos will address a variety of issues, including the sexual division of labour in pre-industrial and industrial settings, entrance of women into the professions, feminization of clerical work, employment of women during two world wars, development of female professions, rise of organized labour, and movements of feminism. At times women’s unpaid labour will be considered to understand the complexity of women’s lives and the larger meaning of ‘work’ in the field of women’s history. To gain knowledge of the subject from a variety of perspectives the course also incorporates primary sources in both written and audio-visual form.  

Required Texts

Weekly readings will be available in .pdf format through WebCT.

Mitchell, Tom and Reinhold Kramer. Walk Towards the Gallows: The Tragedy of Hilda Blake, Hanged 1899. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2007.

Evaluation

Video/Reading Responses (2)      10% (Due in class October 3 and November 28)

Book Review                                 20% (Due in class October 17)

Midterm Test                                 30% (November 7)

Final Examination                          40% (TBA)    

 

Also from this web page:

General Information