Unit 1
Historical and Theoretical Perspectives on Women's Work

In Canada, as in other countries, women's work makes an invaluable contribution to our economy, our families, our communities, and to the broader society in which we live. This is as true today as it was a hundred years ago. Yet, in many ways, we are only beginning to recognize and appreciate the value and meaning of this work-for women personally and for Canadian society as a whole.

This course is designed to help you develop a sociological understanding of the work done by Canadian women. Looking at both the past and the present, you will examine the changing nature and patterns of women's work, the meaning work has for women, and the value of women's work to our society. One important question you will encounter throughout the course is the extent to
which work contributes to equality and empowerment-or to inequality and disadvantage-for women. Some people believe that women have been, and continue to be, greatly disadvantaged at work by being concentrated in low-paying jobs or by juggling a 'double day' of paid and family work. Others see work as an important site of social change, wherein women have gained greater equality and autonomy by earning their own incomes and by moving into jobs traditionally done by men. The course also considers the importance of gender in shaping a common experience of work and the extent to which women's working lives differ depending on social factors such as class, age, and race.

Unit 1 introduces and examines key concepts and ideas about women's work.
It surveys the nature of the work done by Canadian women in earlier periods, particularly the 19th and early 20th centuries. This historical focus provides a crucial foundation for understanding women's work today and provides valuable knowledge and insights about the issues facing working women today. As you will see, significant changes have occurred in women's work, but there are important continuities as well.

Learning Objectives

When you have completed Unit 1, you should be able to

1. define and provide examples of women's work.
2. outline key theories that attempt to explain the work women do in the economy and in the home.
3. describe the changing nature of women's work in 19th- and 20th-century Canada.
4. provide examples of how age, marital status, class, and race shaped women's work during this time.