The Feminist Challenge to the Canadian Left, 1900-1918
Description
Newton argues that socialist women and their concerns posed a radical challenge to the male-dominated left. Early socialist women fought to be treated as equals and actively debated popular women's issues, including domestic work, women in industry, sexuality, and women's suffrage. They provided a unique and vibrant perspective on these issues and challenged the middle-class bias inherent in the women's movement. Broadening our understanding of Canadian social history, Newton analyses the intersection of two important social movements - the labour/socialist and the turn-of-the-century feminist movements - and draws conclusions that are essential for understanding the class and gender characteristics of social criticism and activism in this period.
Reviews
"This spirited examination of the dialogue between feminism and socialism will create considerable interest and debate. I wholeheartedly recommend the book." Veronica Strong-Boag, Centre for Research in Women's Studies and Gender Relations, University of British Columbia.