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From Left to Right

Maternalism and Women’s Political Activism in Postwar Canada

by (author) Brian T. Thorn

Publisher
UBC Press
Initial publish date
Jul 2016
Subjects
Post-Confederation (1867-), History & Theory, Women's Studies
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9780774832113
    Publish Date
    Jul 2016

Library Ordering Options

Description

In From Left to Right, Brian Thorn explores what motivated Canadian women to become politically engaged in the 1940s and ’50s. Although women in these decades are often depicted as being trapped in the suburbs, they joined diverse political parties, including the CCF, Social Credit, and the Communist Party of Canada. Thorn argues, controversially, that while women on the “left” and “right” had different goals, their activism continued to be informed by maternalism. They used their roles as wives and mothers to influence their parties’ positions and to break down barriers. Along the way, they laid the foundations for the 1960s feminist movement.

About the author

Contributor Notes

Brian T. Thorn teaches English and history at Nipissing University. His scholarly articles dealing with Canadian political, labour, intellectual, and gender history have appeared in Left History, Histoire sociale/Social History, and Labour/Le Travail.