Feminist Thought

This section contains material representing the evolution and practice of feminist thought. Feminist thought during the 1970s, 80s, and 90s was rapidly evolving and encompassed a wide range of theories, perspectives, and movements. Items reflect the breadth and growth of feminist approaches to understanding, challenging, and dismantling the oppression of women and all oppressed groups.

More about Feminist Thought

Key themes include:

  • Theories about the social and economic structures that underpin women’s oppression, including analyses of the relationship between patriarchy and capitalism
  • Strategic perspectives on the struggle for systemic change
  • Intersection of sexism, racism, homophobia, class, and other oppressive power formations
  • Organizing to address women’s inequality within left-wing and other radical social justice movements

Sub-Issues

Early Feminist Docs
Revolutionary Left
Socialist Feminism
Radical Feminism

Archival Materials

Buttons

Undated button that says "Behind These Lips Lies a Real Woman"
Behind These Lips Lies A Real Woman

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
BIOLOGY is not DESTINY

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
This button features the slogan "Femmes deboutte!" and the women's liberation symbol.
Femmes deboutte!

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    Quebec

  • Language:

    French
Undated feminist button
fffff

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
The slogan "Free and Female" is the text of this button.
Free and Female

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
This button shows a pink triangle together with the words "I will survive".
I will survive

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
This button was created by Organized Working Women to mark the Montreal Massacre of December 6th 1989.
I’m proud to be a Feminist – Dec.6 Montreal

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
This undated button in support of the Matriarchy features a double-bladed battle axe (labrys) associated with ancient matriarchal societies, such as the Amazons.
Matriarchy Matriarchy

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
This is an undated button for the McMaster University Women's Centre.
McMaster Women’s Centre

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
A 1982 button from Montreal with an image showing a woman's face embedded in a map of the world.
Montréal Femme (1982)

  • Year created:

    1982

  • Region:

    Quebec

  • Language:

    French
Undated Ontario Women's Action Coalition (OWAC) button with slogan "I support the Women's Movement."
Ontario Women’s Action Coalition: I support the Women’s Movement

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
The clenched, raised fist combined with a Venus symbol represents Feminism. It is an iconic symbol of the women's liberation movement.
Pink Venus and Fist

  • Year created:

    --

  • Language:

    English
Button for International Women's Day 1989
Shifting the Weight of the World – March 11, 1989 – International Women’s Day

  • Year created:

    1989

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Whimsical button donated by Cathy Mulroy, an activist involved in winning access to jobs at INCO for women.
Women Are Wonderful

  • Year created:

    1979

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
This button's slogan is "Women Who Seek To Be Equal To Men Lack Ambition"
Women Who Seek To Be Equal To Men Lack Ambition

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
A button with the iconic symbol of the women's liberation movement
Women’s Liberation

  • Year created:

    --

  • Language:

    English
Button calling on women to organize for change.
Women- Don’t Agonize, ORGANIZE

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
"y'est temps!"
Y’est Temps

  • Year created:

    1975

  • Region:

    Quebec

  • Language:

    French

Documents

thumbnail of AlbertaStatusofWomenActionCommittee-1983-AnnualAssemblyBooklet
Alberta Status of Women Action Committee 1983 Annual Assembly Booklet

  • Year created:

    1983

  • Region:

    Alberta

  • Language:

    English
thumbnail of AlbertaStatusofWomenActionCommittee-1984- AnnualReport
Alberta Status of Women Action Committee 1984 Annual Report

  • Year created:

    1984

  • Region:

    Alberta

  • Language:

    English
Bread & Roses – Meeting Minutes – February 8, 1981

  • Year created:

    1981

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
DAWN Open Letter to Women’s Movements – 1986

  • Year created:

    1986

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
Politics in Women’s Liberation: is it necessary?

  • Year created:

    1970

  • Author(s):

    Anne Roberts

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
The Liberation Workshop on Women and Revolution

  • Year created:

    1973

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
The Pink Papers: Government Funding and Government Control in the Women’s Movement

  • Year created:

    1983

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Women Working with Immigrant Women: Paper on International Women’s Day

  • Year created:

    1983

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
“You Are Not One of Us” – The Roots of My Militant Feminism

  • Year created:

    1987

  • Author(s):

    Laura Sabia

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English

Films

Come Into My Parlour

  • Year created:

    1990

  • Filmmaker(s):

    Mary Lewis

  • Language:

    English

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)
Listening for Something… Adrienne Rich and Dionne Brand in Conversation

  • Year created:

    1995

  • Filmmaker(s):

    Dionne Brand

  • Language:

    English

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

Photos
Interview with Léa Roback: 3rd International Feminist Book Fair (1988)

  • Year created:

    1988

  • Photographer:

    Judith Lermer Crawley

  • Region:

    Quebec
This is an undated photo of Judy Rebick, feminist and socialist activist. In the 1980s and early 1990s, Judy was prominent as the President of the National Action Committee on the Status of Women and a leader of the Ontario Coalition for Abortion Clinics.
Judy Rebick

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)
One of several photos taken at a protest organized by the New Feminists in May 1969 outside Maclean's office after it published a review of Lionel Tiger's book Men in Groups in which he theorizes about differences in male and female roles and male superiority.
Protest over Lionel Tiger Article in Maclean’s (1969)

  • Year created:

    1969

  • Photographer:

    Solveig Ryall

  • Region:

    Ontario
This is one of several photos taken at a protest organized by the New Feminists on May 1 1969 outside the Maclean's magazine office after it published a review of Lionel Tiger's book Men in Groups in which he theorizes about differences in male and female roles and male superiority.
Protest over Lionel Tiger Article in Maclean’s (1969)

  • Year created:

    1969

  • Photographer:

    Solveig Ryall

  • Region:

    Ontario
This is one of several photos taken at a 1969 protest organized outside the offices of Maclean's magazine after it published a review of Lionel Tiger's book Men in Groups in which he theorizes about differences in male and female roles and male superiority.
Protest over Lionel Tiger Article in Maclean’s (1969)

  • Year created:

    1969

  • Photographer:

    Solveig Ryall

  • Region:

    Ontario
In this photo, protestors outside Maclean's magazine confront Alexander Ross over his article about Lionel Tiger's book Men in Groups in which Tiger theorizes about differences in male and female roles and male superiority.
Protest over Lionel Tiger Article in Maclean’s (1969)

  • Year created:

    1969

  • Photographer:

    Solveig Ryall

  • Region:

    Ontario