Old-World/
New-World
New-World
Italian emigrants were? (Religion)
Catholic and Jewish
What was the top priority for Italian women?
Supporting their family.
What is Immigration?
Coming from one country to settle and live in another.
Most Italian women were?
Working in unskilled, low paying jobs and often in isolation
Italian families often did what?
Sacrificed individual needs to make the household work.
Women were tasked with what once moving to Canada?
Household Financials, creating budgets, and daily housework which was quite draining.
What are Bridal Trousseaus?
Bridal shower gifts, like starting a hope chest
Where did upwards of 60% of the Italian immigrants come from?
Southern Italy
specifically Agricultural regions
Most mothers left their children with family when away at work, why?
They really didn't like the idea of leaving their children under the watch of strangers
What is "Exchanging Confidences"?
To gossip or share secrets.
Back in Italy the line between men and women's domestic work was often blurred, why?
Women did both the house duties as well as work outside the house and on the farm, tending to crops, livestock, while also looking after the children, cooking and cleaning to maintain a functional home
Women secretly ran things behind the scenes,
How did they achieve this?
By nagging, and pushing for shared power within the household.
Their husbands almost always caved and the wives usually got their way.
On average how long did it take for women to join their husbands overseas?
Six months of saving up with the husbands money and selling of household items, followed by a two week boat ride across the Atlantic and a train ride from Halifax to Toronto.
In 1961 what percentage of women made up the female Toronto workforce?
16,990 Italian women made up 7% of the female workforce
What did Italian families value?
Keeping honour for the family the sexual purity of women within the household and the man who was guarding that was both praised and more often then not the one making the living.
How did women feel about leaving their home?
Many were thrilled about the new life experience while some were rather distraught and worried about their children causing issues during travel
Family homes focused on what?
Communal spaces so the family could socialize.
Rather then a bunch of separate rooms to seclude one another
The husband usually emigrates first, finds a place to settle and works while sending money back to Italy to his family and after awhile wives and children come overseas to start life in a new place.
Provide 4 examples of what Italian women did for work.
garment piece-work at home, steam presses (Laundresses), sewing and novelty making machines
packaging, bottling and labeling, cafeteria work and domestic service
Friendships between Italian women and Canadian women while uncommon in the beginning weren't unheard of.
What benefits came from these friendships?
A lot of women learned how to improve their English speaking skills, while it also provided company outside of the home.
Life of the old world looked a lot like:
(Must list at least 4 for the points)
Labour intensive farming- Ox or cow ploughed fields
Women were thought as men’s baggage
Poor irrigation and soil conditions. It was very acidic and the climate was arid
The Visual- hill-top agro-towns or villages, towns were similar with complex social structures and class divisions
Close family members helped as much as they could when it was needed
Engaged in regional trade networks- sell surplus farm crops, or buy things they don’t have.
How did Italian women feel about renting a home?
Quite frankly they despised it. They felt it infringed on their freedom having to rent from those who weren't family.
How many Italian immigrants settled within Metropolitan Toronto?
90 000 to 40% of the total Italian Immigrants grew to call Toronto home
What was the name of the Italian Union formed in the 60's and what purpose did it have?
(Don't stress about pronunciation)
Unione Donne Italiane
The goal was to help with awful wages and hazardous working conditions
Canadians weren't exactly friendly to the Italian emigrants, what things often happened?
Many were given dirty looks
Their homes were often robbed
and disputes broke out between children at school