LEARNING FROM OUR HISTORY

Community Development by Immigrant Women
in Ontario. 1958-1986

This book by Tania Das Gupta is both a history of immigrant women's organizations in Ontario and as a tool for future action. In the broad analysis of this history, 55 different organizations and programs and their contributions are documented. In-depth case studies show how needs were identified, activities initiated and lessons learned. This information will be used by community workers and organizers to initiate similar programs in other places.

Das Gupta examines the cases of Women Working with Immigrant Women, the Mobile Health Unit of the Immigrant Women's Centre, Making Changes, Ethnic Food Catering of Women Immigrants of London, Modistas Unidas, Multicultural Women's Centre, New Experience for Refugee Women, Down to Business Training Program, Shirley Samaroo House, Immigrant Women Into Electronics and the Spanish Speaking Elderly Women's Support Group of Working Women Community Centre. In documenting the history, analysis is provided on such issues as employment, working in collective structures, racism, the refugee experience, labelling, funding and other issues as they relate to immigrant women. The book includes a selected list of immigrant women's organizations and a bibliography on immigrant women's studies.

"MAKING CHANGES"

"Employment Orientation for Immigrant Women"

Making Changes by M. Kainola is a course which provides a guided group setting where immigrant women can meet and talk, share concerns, knowledge and experience, in order to learn how to make changes and gain more control over their lives. Using stories, poems and drawings, the "Student's Book" involves the reader/participant in a process of self-discovery and active learning. The book is a resource for use in intermediate and advanced English as a Second Language and life-skills programs. The accompanying "Teacher's Guide," with its teaching objectives, methods and suggested activities, provides an experiential model to group sessions. It also includes practical information on running a career planning and job-search program for immigrant women. Order from the Cross Cultural Communication Centre, 965 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M6H 1L7.

"IMMIGRANT WOMEN IN CANADA"

This publication reviews the realities of an immigrant woman's life in Canada today, focusing on barriers which limit her equal participation in Canadian society.

Two main issues are discussed: immigration policy and practice and conditions in the labour market. The document examines these two issues, long neglected in relation to language training and child care.

"This publication summarizes the status of immigrant women in Canada," said CACSW President Sylvia Gold. "An increasingly organized immigrant women's community has been very successful in bringing many of their issues into the public arena." Available from the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women, 110 O'Connor Street, 9th Floor, Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5M9, Tel: (613)992-4976.

"SEX-ROLE LEARNING AND THE WOMAN TEACHER: A
FEMINIST PERSPECTIVE"

In this insightful account of an elementary school action-research project that evolved into a gender issues committee, Rosonna Tite challenges those researching sex-role stereotyping in the schools to understand the work of the classroom from the teacher's point of view. She points out that to focus on instructional activities is to disconnect teachers from the reality of their work and disregard their experiences and their context. Researchers, teachers, parents and all who are concerned about education will come the new conceptual frame-work she proposes. Order from CRIAW/ ICREF, 408-151 Slater, Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5H3.