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RE-ENTRY

WOMEN RE-ENTERING THE LABOuR FORCE - LILLIAN ZIMMERMAN


Lillian Zimmerman is a social worker, currently a faculty member in the Department of Continuing Education and Human services of Douglas College, in British Columbia. She developed and directed a comprehensive Women's Studies program there from 1972 - 78. Recently, Lillian represented Canada at the UNESCO International Seminar on "Opening up to Women of Vocational Training & Jobs Traditionally Occupied by Men", in Frankfurt, Germany in November 1980.

"Re-entry" is a recent phenomenon, probably involving close to one million Canadian women. We do not know their numbers, or anything much else, as little study has been done. This workshop reported on research conducted for a Masters Degree at U.B.C. in 1979 on the social and economic problems of women attempting to re-enter (or enter) the labour force after years spent performing societal sanctioned work in the home. The consequences to them of their confinement to the domestic sphere were examined by interviewing 51 women at three C.E.I.C.'s* in Vancouver during their active attempt to find work. The respondents, a highly articulate group, talked about their own perceptions of the barriers they face, their feelings about counseling, need for education and training opportunities, their own perceived inadequacies, experiences with ageism, etc. This data was then analyzed for fit, or lack of it, with C.E.I.C. and other needed services. It didn't fit.

Two other aspects of the study were discussed: a report on Prime Time, a three-year demonstration project in Victoria, B.C., which engaged in community services for mature women, and an analysis of the inadequacy of the Canadian social security system for re-entry women - a system still grounded in the continued assumption of women's dependence on a male breadwinner.

The workshop was informally conducted. Over 150 women attended and took part in formulating recommendations on the learning opportunities required by re-entry women.


* C.E.I.C. - Canada Employment and Immigration Commission.


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