Canadian workers essays

Canadian workers essays . How did McLachlan attempt to bring women into the wage campaign in 1917, and how did this strategy reflect ideas about masculinity? Women became the focus of J.B. McLachlans campaign for higher wages during 1917 in which there would have been, roughly, a 30 percent pay increase. After discussing it with the AMW, McLachlan set out to include women as part of the struggle so there could be a better understanding of the needs of workers and their families. Women were asked to write to McLachlan to provide information regarding an imaginary family budget. This budget had to include living expenses such as food and rent. At the time, workers were only receiving $3.50 a day which, as one woman points out, was not even enough to cover the food bill and the rent alone. This was McLachlans attempt to bring women into the wage campaign and it also changed the miners perception of womens role in the home. Within the mining community, women became more recognised as an important asset to their well-being within the community. The reason women were picked for McLachlans contest was because of their knowledge of money with respect to household expenses. Men were occupied working in the mines for ten hours a day while women took responsibility for managing the money. Asking them for the financial needs of mining families seemed like an obvious option to McLachlan and the AMW. The masculinity that existed during this time is something that should not be overlooked. It stemmed from the notion that men where the only ones who were supposed to work and earn a living, not women. The main purpose of keeping women in the home was for them to take care of the children as well as tending to the house. McLachlan also believed in this patriarchal norm that was part of society at the time. It was not typical for a man of this time period to stay at home and not be the breadwinner of the family. This way of thi ...