Hello fellow citizens

[grasswire]

(I'm a citizen myself since the enactment of the Lost Canadians Act of April 2009)

I have been asked to work on a business project that requires some knowledge of what the modern Canadian woman 30-55 is like. Is she different from her U.S. counterpart, and -- if so -- how?

Is there a popular publication that would show the tastes and opinions of the modern Canadian woman?

And did being part of the British Empire influence women in ways that still show today?

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

The maple leaf forever.

[HeresyLives]

1. Hi yerself, fellow-Canuck!

Canadian women are much like American ones...altho we have fewer children, along with the other differences between Americans and Canadians.

There is a magazine called 'Chatelaine' for women...I haven't read it in years, but it might help you.

Maple Leaf forever, eh?

[grasswire]

2. I saw a copy of Chatelaine...

...at the Barnes & Noble, and leafed through it. It seemed a bit like the Good Housekeeping mag in the U.S. Fairly conservative and traditional.

Would you say that there is a Canadian equivalent of Martha Stewart -- someone who might be called a "tastemaker"?

And yes, my father taught me all the words to "Maple Leaf Forever" many many years ago. I've always been happy about that.

[HeresyLives]

3. Yes, that it is.

Altho it's had editors that changed it's focus over the years. It used to be very forward-thinking.

No, we have no Martha Stewart. Canadian women don't see themselves as any different than men.

Maple Leaf Forever has new words tho.

[grasswire]

4. new words??

do tell.

why would they do that?

And please clarify. Do French-Canadian women see themselves as no different from men? I'm a bit surprised by your statement and would like to know more.

My grandmother kept a homestead shack on the prairie of Saskatchewan. I suspect she thought the life there no different for men or women -- just as hard either way.

[HeresyLives]

5. New words

The new version removed references to British colonialism and the Union Flag, and celebrated multi-culti.

O, land of blue unending skies,
Mountains strong and sparkling snow,
A scent of freedom in the wind,
O'er the emerald fields below.

To thee we brought our hopes, our dreams,
For thee we stand together,
Our land of peace, where proudly flies,
The Maple Leaf forever.

Chorus:
Long may it wave, and grace our own,
Blue skies and stormy weather,
Within my heart, above my home,
The Maple Leaf forever!

From East and West, our heroes came,
Through icy fields and frozen bays,
Who conquered fear, and cold, and hate,
And their ancient wisdom says:

Protect the weak, defend your rights,
And build this land together,
Above which shine the Northern Lights,
And the Maple Leaf forever!


I should also tell you I haven't heard the term 'French-Canadian' in years...they are all Quebecois. I think you have a view of Canada that is somewhat outdated. Nobody makes any big deal out of male-female. Men cook, women go out to work, all that stuff.

Edited to add the url that explains it all.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Maple_Leaf_Forever

[grasswire]

6. well, sure

Men cook, women go out to work in the U.S. too. But there also is a layer of interests that are considered largely either male or female. More women than men are interested in fashion and home; more men than women are interested in cars and sports. That's just the way it is, or at least it is the way the marketers arrange things.

Do you like the new words to Maple Leaf Forever?

[HeresyLives]

7. It's not a big deal here.

We have male fashionistas and home decor types, and women involved in cars and sports. I don't see the same strict social lines on these things like there are in the US. I kept my 'maiden name', and in Quebec you're legally required to do so.

The old words kept the song from becoming our anthem, and that's too bad because it's the nicer melody. I much prefer the newer one.

[glarius]

12. Do you know that the national anthem is "Oh Canada" and not

"The Maple Leaf Forever?"....I'm just asking because I thought you might not realize it. It's sort of like you have your national anthem and you also sing America the beautiful as a patriotic song.
:toast: CHEERS!

[grasswire]

13. well of course I do

But I never liked it as well as Maple Leaf. Sounds like it was written by a committee.

[glarius]

14. It's funny you should think that....I've always thought the U.S.A

national anthem sounds as if it's all about war with bombs bursting, rocket's red glare, and the perilous fight etc.

[grasswire]

15. that may be true too

a flag flying through a fierce battle; that's the story of the U.S. anthem. Of course the battle described was a Royal Navy attacking the fort of a sovereign nation.

<cough>

[glarius]

17. It just sounds so warlike....it wouldn't be my choice for a national anthem. n/t

[grasswire]

20. once again....

...it is a song written about a flag flying in the middle of a battle where aggressors are attacking people who just want to be free. In a way, it's an anti-war plea.

[glarius]

21. I wonder how many people know that?....I'll bet many Americans

don't even know it. I still say it sounds warlike. You have other songs, such as America the beautiful for instance which I think would be nicer.
I would never have mentioned this if it wasn't for you opening the subject of national anthems.
I have nothing more to say on the subject.

[IntravenousDemilo]

10. Not all French Canadians are Québécois.

Acadiens are not Québécois.
Franco-Ontariens are not Québécois.
Fransaskois are not Québécois.

Just for example.

And I dislike the new words to "The Maple Leaf Forever". I also disliked the changes made to the English lyric of "O Canada" a few decades ago, especially the inclusion of "God keep our land". But what are you gonna do?

[HeresyLives]

11. People in Quebec are Quebecois.

All others are Francophones, if you're going by language.

[IntravenousDemilo]

22. Well, yes, of course, that goes without saying.

I still hear "French Canadian" about as much as I hear "Francophone", though. Maybe I should hang out with younger English Canadians.

[HeresyLives]

23. Yes, younger would help.

Quebecois these days see themselves as global. The Separatists are aging, and on their way out.

That's not to say we won't have a separation, just not for the same reasons they had years ago.

[Spazito]

8. Hi fellow citizen!

The women of Canada are really not very different than the women in the U.S. for the most part. It is very hard to generalize though. As to your question re British Empire influence, I would say it has none at all. It is the U.S. that has more influence culturally ie fashion, choices in television shows, etc.

One way Canadians, including women, are possibly different is in our 'global' outlook as our education system, I believe, has more world studies within it than the U. S. system.

If you have some more narrow questions, I might be able to help more as I am 56 and have a daughter who is 35.

[Bragi]

9. An evidence-based book that's relevant

It's a wee bit dated, but I doubt that the broad differences between Americans and Canadians have changed much in the past 5 years (despite the fact that we have been governed for almost 4 years by a PM who actually doesn't share Canadian values.)

"In this 2003 bestseller, which won the Donner Prize for the best book on Canadian public policy, Michael Adams offers the surprising argument that the values of Canadians and Americans are diverging in important ways. Despite the two countries' profound economic integration, their many historical, demographic, and geographic similarities, and the ubiquity of American popular culture in Canada, Adams argues that Canadians and Americans increasingly view the world differently. Relying on thousands of social values surveys conducted in Canada since 1983 and in the United States since 1992, Adams describes cross-border differences on matters ranging from religion, authority, and the family to entertainment, consumption, and civic life. Fire and Ice offers an illuminating portait of the evolving values of two nations separated at birth."

http://www.michaeladams.ca/books/fire_ice/

[grasswire]

16. thanks....sounds interesting. (eom)

[daleo]

18. Try reading "Fire and Ice"

Micheal Adams. Not specifically about women but an interesting treatment of U.S. and Canadian contrasts in attitude, based on long term polling.

[daleo]

19. Whoops

I see it was recommended already. All the more reason to read it.