1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«[This book] aims firstly to show how important the family has been an institution in Canadian history. At the same time, the articles demontrate clearly that the structure, ideological content and demographic characteristics of Canadian families have varied across time and region, and between classes and ethnic groups. Thirdly, most of the articles underline the fact that the family has never meant the same thing to men as it has to women. Finally, I have chosen articles that illustrate many of the different sources, methods, and interpretative frameworks historians use to try to understand the history of families.» (p. 2-3)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
Données documentaires diverses

Type de traitement des données :
Réflexion critique

3. Résumé

«Canadian Family History is a collection of articles on the history of families in Canada from New France to the 1970s. It combines classic and newer material with several articles written or translated specifically for this volume.» (quatrième de couverture) «The articles are grouped both chronologically and thematically, starting with marriage and unwed mothers in New-France, then looking at the confrontation of family norms and pratices among native peoples and fur-trading families, at rural and fishing families in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. I have attempted to cover different regions and hence to look at how the nature of local economies and labour markets influenced the sexual division of labour within families. I have tried, too, to choose papers that cover most periods of the family life cycle. Articles deal with premarital sex, marriage, divorce, inheritance, children’s work roles, and men and women’s work.» (p. 3)

Les textes suivants font l’objet d’une fiche dans Famili@ :
-Bouchard, Gérard, «Transmission of family Property and the Cycle of Quebec Rural Society from the Seventeeth to the Twentieth Century»
-Gaffield, Chad M., «Canadian Families in Cultural Context: Hypotheses from the Mid-Nineteenth Century»
-Bradbury, Bettina, «Gender at Work at Home: Family Decisions, the Labour market, and Girls’ Contributions to the family Economy»
-Jean, Dominique, «Family Allowances and family Autonomy: Quebec Families Encounter the Welfare State, 1945-1955»
-Landry, Yves, «Gender Imbalance, Les Filles du Roi, and Choice of Spouse in New France»