When it was becoming more popular to move to Canada because of the fur trading and the abundance of it because essentially it was a business that produced a lot of money. It made the clothes and hats and shoes etc. Many fur traders were living in Canada at the time for many months and years even. Lack of white European woman to marry to in Canada since Canada was still very un-populated eventually led them to meet and marry the aboriginal woman. This also helped with the actual business of the fur trading as their aboriginal wives were the daughters or family to the aboriginal groups that helped them survive and collect the fur. The aboriginal woman were known as country woman.
Characteristics expected of woman in:
URBAN SETTING:
- cooking
- curing meat, baking, cheese, butter
- make and repair clothing
- make candles and soap (domestic responsibilities)
- men make the decision to move to Canada, women expected not to questions
- spend as little as possible so you can build your house/barn asap
RURAL SETTING:
- physically active
- cheerful
- making changes for the good of the land
- practical knowledge in baking, cooking, knitting, dress-making, cultivating milk and cheese
- knowing survival skills for their husband to depend on
- not focused on vanity or flare of social standing
- most woman will be FN or metis
- responsible for food
- marred to a fur trader
- gifts are exchanged for the daughter
- FN would have access to forts/trading posts
- interpreters, navigators (guides) for traders
- survivals skills from the wife (food)
- helped traders make canoes and snow shoes
Explain how far womens equality has progressed sine the early 1800s:
Compared to today there is still the mindset that woman should do domestic and household particularities, but its not as popular as today. Also woman don’t have to move with their husband but it still happens only in today’s time woman ave more of a choice. Education is also something that woman have today that we can use to progress into a more successful career so i think today there is just more freedom and opportunities.