Class Overview

• Course: History 260.2: Canadian Women’s History: 1919 to the Present
• Class Date: February 27, 2025
• Focus: Thematic snapshot on motherhood and childhood in Canada.

Class Outline

1. Scientific Motherhood
2. Impact on Childhood – The Quints
3. The State’s Denial of Motherhood
4. Children’s Voices in the Archives

Core Questions

• How did the Canadian government and society shape the concept of perfect motherhood in the 20th century?
• Who was marginalized or excluded from this idea of perfect motherhood, and why?
• What effects has the model of perfect motherhood had on the experiences of Canadian children?

Interrelation of Histories of Parenting and Childhood

• Historical parenting narratives often overlook children's perspectives; children remain objectified in sources.
• Special emphasis is on marginalized identities, particularly girls, who experience societal hierarchies.

Part 1: Scientific Motherhood

Postwar Growth of Scientific Motherhood

• Post-World War II belief that mothers needed a scientific understanding of childbirth and childrearing.
• Medicalization led to the rise of medical and scientific expertise in these areas, emphasizing structured guidance for mothers.

Advice Literature & Motherhood

• Popular texts like Dr. Spock’s Baby and Child Care guided mothers in practical child-rearing skills and child psychology.
• Highlighted the importance of regular doctor visits and hospital births.

Emphasis on Maternal Responsibility

• Postwar stress and anxiety increase as mothers faced pressure to follow medical advice for child development.
• Proper nutrition was paramount; specific guidelines on breastfeeding and solid food introduction evolved across decades.

Shift from Midwifery to Hospitals

• Indigenous midwifery practices existed pre-colonization but were overshadowed by settler healthcare systems.
• Establishment of public health services and standardized protocols for childbirth and childrearing influenced practices across Canada.

Part 2: Impact on Childhood – The Quints

The Dionne Quintuplets

1. Documentary Clip Questions:
   • How did scientific advancements shape the Dionne Quintuplets’ upbringing?
   • What role did ethnicity, class, and age play in their treatment?
   • What insights do cultural products featuring the Quints provide into societal views of girls in the 1930s-50s?

Public Fascination

• The Quints were subjected to public scrutiny; their observation was managed to minimize distractions.
• Marketing strategies for Dionne Quintuplet merchandise reflected societal interest in their lives.

Part 3: The State’s Denial of Motherhood

Indigenous Women and Colonial Influence

• The Canadian government imposed British legal frameworks and social norms on Indigenous populations.
• The residential school system intended to dismantle Indigenous kinship and cultural practices.

Eugenics and Indigenous Women

• Indigenous women faced coercive sterilization policies in the 1960s and 70s, motivated by systemic racism and sexism.
• Overrepresentation of Indigenous women in these medical interventions stemmed from biased assessments of motherhood capability.

The 60s Scoop

• Changes to The Indian Act in 1951 led to Indigenous assimilation into child welfare systems.
• Alberta and Saskatchewan saw significant rates of Indigenous children placed in foster homes, highlighting systemic neglect.

Adoption Advertisement Campaigns

• Targeted marketing efforts aimed at white families to adopt Indigenous children, reinforcing colonial narratives of 'saving' these children.

Part 4: Children’s Voices in the Archives

Documentary Insights

1. Questions for Analysis:
   • What message is conveyed through selective documentary imagery?
   • What can be inferred about the children's lives based on documentary choices?
   • What additional context is necessary to fully understand these children's experiences?

Key Takeaways

• The concept of Ideal Motherhood imposes strict expectations on women, often marginalizing those who don’t conform.
• It is rooted in British, Protestant, middle-class ideals, systematically excluding diverse identities.
• Children frequently have been positioned merely as objects of the Ideal Motherhood narrative, addressing broader societal issues surrounding childhood and motherhood in Canada.