Awards

• Short-listed for C.P. Stacey Award 2014 (Canada)
• Short-listed for Canada Prize in the Social Sciences, Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences 2013 (Canada)
• Short-listed for Political History Prize Best Book, Canadian Historical Association 2013 (Canada)

Overview

Cold War Comforts examines Canadian women's efforts to protect children's health and safety between the dropping of the first atomic bomb in Hiroshima in 1945 and the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. Amid this global insecurity, many women participated in civil defence or joined the disarmament movement as means to protect their families from the consequences of nuclear war. To help children affected by conflicts in Europe and Asia, women also organized foreign relief and international adoptions. In Canada, women pursued different paths to peace and security. From all walks of life, and from all parts of the country, they dedicated themselves to finding ways to survive the hottest periods of the Cold War. What united these women was their shared concern for children's survival amid Cold War fears and dangers. Acting on their identities as Canadian citizens and mothers, they characterized with their activism the genuine interest many women had in protecting children's health and safety. In addition, their activities offered them a legitimate space to operate in the traditionally male realms of defence and diplomacy. Their efforts had a direct impact on the lives of children in Canada and abroad and influenced changes in Canada's education curriculum, immigration laws, welfare practices, defence policy, and international relations. Cold War Comforts offers insight into how women employed maternalism, nationalism, and internationalism in their work, and examines shifting constructions of family and gender in Cold War Canada. It will appeal to scholars of history, child and family studies, and social policy.

Full Product Details

9781554586233

Table of Contents

Reviews

Cold War Comforts is a fascinating account of Canadian women's international activism during the Cold War. - Kevin Brushett, Royal Military College of Canada, British Journal of Canadian Studies, Volume 27. Number 1

Cold War Comforts is a fascinating account of Canadian women's international activism during the Cold War. - Kevin Brushett, Royal Military College of Canada, British Journal of Canadian Studies, Volume 27. Number 1 Building wonderfully on the work of the Cold War historians who precede her, Brookfield uses her own research to provide new voices that deepen our understanding of this precarious time in Canadian history. Cold War Comforts is an engaging look at the many women who navigated new waters to ensure a peaceful future for their children, and for our country. -- Joanna Dawson -- Canada's History, 201306

Author Information

Tarah Brookfield is an assistant professor at Wilfrid Laurier University's Brantford campus, where she teaches in contemporary studies, history, and youth and children studies.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available