Women of the Victoria shipyards 1942-1945 : an oral history
Date
1998
Authors
Thornton, Carole Paula
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Abstract
This thesis examines the role of women in the shipbuilding industry in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada during World War II. Using oral history and relevant documentary evidence, I explore women' s experiences in two shipyards-Victoria Machinery Depot and Yarrows for the period 1942 to 1946. The issues examined include: short-term employment, harassment, male resistance to women in the shipyards, union reaction to female employees and government concerns about post-war female employment. This study concludes that women viewed their war-time jobs as a positive experience despite the presence of patriarchal authority and deeply ingrained cultural assumptions about the proper work of women.