Contemporary Quebec Feminism: The Interrelation of Political and Ideological Development in Women's Organizations, Trade Unions, Political Parties and State Policy, 1960-1980.

Abstract

<p>This study explores the development of francophone women's movements In Quebec, 1960-1980, In the light of a theoretical framework derived from hegemony theory and feminist theory. In particular, It is concerned to discover how the ideologies of women and the politics of feminism are related to the consolidatlon of ruling and opposition blocs in three periods, which have been characterised as liberal-modernisatlon (1960- 1976), a crisis of hegemony (1970-1976) and progressive national (1976-1980). The thesis argues that women's movements are not merely constituted by the social and political conditions in which they develop, but are also constitutive of more general allilances on a political field structured by class, national and gender struggles. Liberal, social Catholic, revolutionary, radical and trade union women's movements are studied.</p> <p>The study argues that the development of feminist politics was not, as has been thought, simply backard. Instead, IiberaI feminist politicaI organizations developed In advance of similar organizations in the rest of Canada. They did so by appropriating elements of the legitimatlng Iiberal modernisation ideology and adapting them to support their programmes for improvement In women's status and for the representation of women in the state, through an advisory ConseiI du Statut de la femme. The study also argues that feminist and nationalist aspirations were not merely opposed to one another, as is commonly argued, but that in the long run, the mobilised political field which grew out of national and trade union struggles, permitted rapid and innovative reform in state policy. Finally, the study points to the ways in which a feminist gender politics, particularly as influenced by trade union feminism, was central to the consolidatlon of the progressive-nationalist bloc, led by the Partl québécols.</p>