Experiencing Patriarchy: Women, Work and Trade Unionism at Eaton's

Abstract

This research tested the applicability of Sylvia Walby's theoretical model of patriarchy to a case study of women working and unionizing at the T. Eaton Co. The focus was on the two time periods 1947-1952 and 1984-86 when a unionization drive was underway at Eaton's. In depth interviewing was conducted with over ninety participants in the events. Support was found for the aspects of Walby' s model that pertain to patriarchal relations within paid work. In addition, forms of women's resistance and empowerment were examined specifically in relation to the 1984 unionization events. It was found that women's political action contains components that traditional politics do not explain. Overall, the findings of this case study strongly support Walby' s position that gender inequality in society as a whole cannot be understood without the concept of patriarchy (1990).