Mennonite Women in Canada: A History (Studies in Immigration and Culture)

Female voices are rare in the historical record of the Mennonites. Nevertheless, Mennonite women were influential in shaping Mennonite and Canadian society. Mennonite Women in Canada, the first comprehensive history of Mennonite women, traces their role over the past two hundred years. Marleen Epp explores women's roles within the contexts of immigration, family, church life, work, education, and social life. Comparing how Mennonites dictate women's "place" within society with how women actually behave, Epp finds a contradiction between behavioral ideals and practicalities. Also, women's responses to dictates about their proper place vary widely, unsettling a clear delineation of their roles. Using diaries, oral histories, genealogies, and memoirs, Epp presents a fascinating story of Canadian Mennonite women that deserves to be read by women and men everywhere. "Marlene Epp explores women's roles, as prescribed and as lived, within the contexts of immigration and settlement, household and family, church and organizational life, work and education, and in response to social trends and events. She questions how Mennonites dictate women's "place" within the church, family, and community, and how women, collectively and individually, actually behave. Epp found that in virtually all aspects of women's lives, there exists a contradiction between behavioural ideals and practicalities. She also found that their responses to dictates about their proper place ranged from acceptance to rebellion, and almost always unsettled a clear delineation of their roles." "Using diaries, oral histories, church histories, genealogies, and memoirs, Epp has painstakingly pieced together a rich and fascinating story of Canadian Mennonite women that deserves to be read by women and men everywhere." --Résumé de l'éditeur "Marlene Epp explores women's roles, as prescribed and as lived, within the contexts of immigration and settlement, household and family, church and organizational life, work and education, and in response to social trends and events. She questions how Mennonites dictate women's "place" within the church, family, and community, and how women, collectively and individually, actually behave. Epp found that in virtually all aspects of women's lives, there exists a contradiction between behavioural ideals and practicalities. She also found that their responses to dictates about their proper place ranged from acceptance to rebellion, and almost always unsettled a clear delineation of their roles." "Using diaries, oral histories, church histories, genealogies, and memoirs, Epp has painstakingly pieced together a rich and fascinating story of Canadian Mennonite women that deserves to be read by women and men everywhere."--Jacket Female voices are rare in the historical record of the Mennonites. Nevertheless, Mennonite women were influential in shaping Mennonite and Canadian society. __Mennonite Women in Canada,__ the first comprehensive history of Mennonite women, traces their role over the past two hundred years. Marleen Epp explores women's roles within the contexts of immigration, family, church life, work, education, and social life. Comparing how Mennonites dictate women's "place" within society with how women actually behave, Epp finds a contradiction between behavioral ideals and practicalities. Also, women's responses to dictates about their proper place vary widely, unsettling a clear delineation of their roles. Using diaries, oral histories, genealogies, and memoirs, Epp presents a fascinating story of Canadian Mennonite women that deserves to be read by women and men everywhere. Mennonite Women in Canada traces the complex social history and multiple identities of Canadian Mennonite women over 200 years. Marlene Epp explores women's roles, as prescribed and as lived, within the contexts of immigration and settlement, household and family, church and organizational life, work and education, and in response to social trends and events. The combined histories of Mennonite women offer a rich and fascinating study of how women actively participate in ordering their lives within ethno-religious communities. Traces the complex social history and multiple identities of Canadian Mennonite women over 200 years. Marlene Epp explores women's roles, as prescribed and as lived, within the contexts of immigration and settlement, household and family, church and organisational life, work and education, and in response to social trends and events.