Book Description

Labouring Canada: Class, Gender, and Race in Canadian Working-Class History is a collection of 28 classic and contemporary essays exploring the complex interactions of class, gender, and race in the working lives of Canadians from the late eighteenth century to the present. The older classics lay the groundwork for the field of labour history in general, while the more recent contributions focus more specifically on issues of race, class, and gender. The range of topics examined is broad: from class relations in the fur trade, Aboriginal longshoremen in British Columbia, and racial discrimination against CNR porters to the negotiation of class in mid-1800s Nova Scotia, the Montreal teachers' strike of 1949, burlesque workers in 1970s BC, and the nature of the unpaid work performed by women in the home. Designed as a core text for undergraduate courses in labour history, this diverse collection provides an engaging and comprehensive introduction to the field. Readings are organized chronologically and thematically in eleven sections. Each section begins with an introduction that outlines the necessary historical context. Each section introduction includes a list of related resources. All essays have been edited and abridged to make them more accessible to undergraduate readers. Book jacket.