Transforming Labour: Women and Work in Post-War Canada, a new book written by Dr. Joan Sangster, has been nominated for the John A. Macdonald prize by the Canadian Historical Association.
Awarded annually to the book judged to be the best of all studies published in Canadian history, the competition for the John A. Macdonald Prize is stiff and the evaluations rigorous. The prize, in the amount of $1,000, is awarded by the Canadian Historical Association.
Transforming Labour: Women and Work in Post-War Canada examines the history of women’s paid labour from WWII to the 1970s, using case studies from across Canada during this period that explore themes such as women’s service labour, their experience with unions, Aboriginal women’s changing patterns of work, and the challenges faced by immigrant women. The increased participation of women in the labour force was one of the most significant changes to Canadian social life during that time.
“Despite the fact that women did leave the workforce immediately after the war, the period overall saw a significant increase in women working outside the home. The workforce was no longer mainly working daughters, but now included more and more working mothers too,” said Professor Sangster.
Prof. Sangster’s book challenges many preconceived notions about this era, often portrayed as a period of conformity and domesticity for women. As paid labour became more and more central to women’s lives, they increasingly involved themselves in unions and pushed the boundaries of accepted workplace norms. By the 1960s, they were raising their voices collectively, calling for social change.
Dean of Graduate Studies, Prof. Sangster started teaching at Trent University in 1984. She has been recognized for her research accomplishments with numerous awards and fellowships, including being appointed to the Royal Society of Canada. She has also been honoured with both the Symons Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Trent University Distinguished Researcher Award.
Posted on Friday, March 11, 2011.