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The quiet evolution: Regionalism, feminism and traditionalism in the work of Camille Lessard-Bissonnette
Abstract
This dissertation examines the themes of regionalism, feminism and traditionalism as discussed by Camille Lessard-Bissonnette in her journalism, from 1906 to 1938, and in her novel, Canuck, published in 1936, in order to determine if the experience of immigration influences the treatment of these three themes. An immigrant herself, Lessard-Bissonnette was poised between two cultures. Moreover, her writing spans a period of burgeoning feminism. As a result, her depiction of her two homes,--Quebec and the United States,--her views on the rights and roles of women, and her maintenance of traditional perspectives and values from her culture of origin comprise the primary focus of this analysis. In addition, a biography outlining the writer's life and contextualizing her work, and a comparative study of the novels of three other Franco-American women writers round out this dissertation. The methodological approach is one which encompasses a variety of disciplines: sociology and anthropology illuminate a discussion of the effects of industrialization upon the institution of the family; research in women's studies informs an examination of female fictional development, women's part in labor history, and the role of gender specificity in the elaboration of nationalism, and; the field of ethnic studies sheds important light on recurrent themes in immigrant literature. The result of this dissertation is the revelation that Lessard-Bissonnette's regional loyalty eventually shifts from French Canada to be extended primarily to her pays d'adoption. Synchronous with this development is the author's increased participation in American public life, including the feminist movement. At the same time, however, the influence of her pays d'origine's traditionalism continues to be reflected in her preoccupation with family life, the preservation of language, faith and culture, and the expression of loyalty to the Quebec homeland. The conclusion of this dissertation, therefore, is that Lessard-Bissonnette's views, as expressed in her fictional and non-fictional work undergoes an evolutionary process. This is the result of an immigrant's slow but steady acculturation and is indicative of social change in the Franco-American community of which the writer is a member.
Subject Area
Canadian literature|Womens studies|Ethnic studies|Sociology
Recommended Citation
Shideler, Janet Lee, "The quiet evolution: Regionalism, feminism and traditionalism in the work of Camille Lessard-Bissonnette" (1991). Doctoral Dissertations Available from Proquest. AAI9120943.
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations/AAI9120943