Female Imperialism and National Identity : the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire

Through a study of the British Empire's largest women's patriotic organization, formed in 1900, this book examines the relationship between female imperialism and national identity. It sheds light on women's involvement in imperialism, and on the history of 'conservative' women's organizations. -- . This electronic version has been made available under a Creative Commons (BY-NC-ND) open access license. Through a study of the British Empire's largest women's patriotic organisation, formed in 1900, and still in existence, this book examines the relationship between female imperialism and national identity. It throws new light on women's involvement in imperialism; on the history of ‘conservative'women's organisations; on women's interventions in debates concerning citizenship and national identity; and on the history of women in white settler societies. After placing the IODE (Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire) in the context of recent scholarly work in Canadian, gender, imperial history and post-colonial theory, the book follows the IODE's history through the twentieth century. Tracing the organisation into the postcolonial era, where previous imperial ideas are outmoded, it considers the transformation from patriotism to charity, and the turn to colonisation at home in the Canadian North. Through a study of the British Empire's largest women's patriotic organisation, formed in 1900 and still in existence, this book examines the relationship between female imperialism and national identity. It throws new light on women's involvement in imperialism, on the history of 'conservative' women's organisations, on women's interventions in debates concerning citizenship and national identity and on the history of women in white settler societies. After placing the IODE (Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire) in the context of recent scholarly work in Canadian, gender, imperial history and post-colonial theory, the book follows the IODE's history through the twentieth century. Tracing the organisation into the postcolonial era, where previous imperial ideas are outmoded, it considers the transformation from patriotism to charity, and the turn to colonisation at home in the Canadian North Front matter Contents List of figures and tables List of abbreviations General editor's introduction Acknowledgements Dedication Introduction Genealogy of an imperial and nationalistic Order Female imperialism at the periphery: organizing principles, 1900–19 Women, race and assimilation: the canadianizing 1920s Exhibiting Canada: Empire, migration and the 1928 English Schoolgirl Tour Britishness and Canadian nationalism: Daughters of the Empire, mothers in their own homes, 1929–45 ‘Other than stone and mortar’: war memorials, memory and imperial knowledge Conservative women and democracy: defending Cold War Canada Modernizing the north: women, internal colonization and indigenous peoples Conclusion Note on sources Bibliography Index "Through a detailed study of the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire, or the IODE, the British Empire's largest women's patriotic organisation, this book examines the relationship between female imperialism and national identity. It throws new light on women's involvement in imperialism; on the history of 'conservative' women's organisations; on women's interventions in debates concerning citizenship and national identity; and on the history of women in white settler societies." "This important study of a fascinating organisation will be of interest to historians of Imperial History, Gender Studies and Postcolonial Studies."--Jacket.