Occupations for Trained Women in Canada | The Canadian Encyclopedia

Occupations for Trained Women in Canada

Occupations for Trained Women in Canada (1920) was written by philanthropist Alice Massey (1879–1950), daughter of educator Sir George Robert Parkin and wife of Vincent Massey, future Governor General of Canada. In 1914, Alice Massey became head of a women’s residence at University College, University of Toronto. This experience inspired Massey to write a summary of the education and employment opportunities for women, using statistics she gathered in 1919. The book includes information about training programs, job prospects and salary ranges in different fields, including those traditionally associated with women (e.g., teaching, household science, nursing, secretarial work) as well as science, medicine, finance and social work, among others. Massey notes that some women were forced to seek education and employment in other countries, particularly the United States. (See also Women in the Labour Force.)

An image from the 1920 publication is included below. The Canadian Encyclopedia includes this primary source as part of a partnership with the Canadian Research Knowledge Network’s Canadiana collections. For the work in its entirety, please visit their website.


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Page 11 of Occupations for Trained Women in Canada (1920).
(by J.M. Dent and Sons, Limited, courtesy Canadiana)



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