An Anti-Feminist Backlash?
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University of Calgary PRISM: University of Calgary's Digital Repository Graduate Studies Legacy Theses 1998 A multi-organizational analysis of the pro-family movement in Calgary: an anti-feminist backlash? Anderson, Gillian Anderson, G. (1998). A multi-organizational analysis of the pro-family movement in Calgary: an anti-feminist backlash? (Unpublished master's thesis). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. doi:10.11575/PRISM/21044 http://hdl.handle.net/1880/26328 master thesis University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission. Downloaded from PRISM: https://prism.ucalgary.ca This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. 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Bell 8 Howell Information and Learning 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY A Multi-organizational Analysis of the Pro-family Movement in Caleary: An Anti-feminist Backlash? by Gillian Anderson A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES M PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY CALGARY, ALBERTA AUGUST, 1998 O Gillian Anderson 1998 National Library Bibliothhue nationale I*m of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographic Services services bibtiographiques 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington OttawaON K1AOW Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Canada Canada Your Me Vorre reference Our hb Notre retdrenco The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accorde une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive pennettant a la National Library of Canada to Bibliotheque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sell reproduire, preter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette these sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/filrn, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format electronique . The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriete du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protege cette these. thesis nor substantial extracts fiom it Ni la these ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent 6tre imprimes reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. ABSTRACT Utilizing Curtis and Zurcher's (1973) and Klandermam's ( 1991 ) concept of the "multi- organizational field, my case study of the pro-family movement in Calgary in 1998 maps out different pro-family organizations: highlights ideological positions on social issues such as family, homosexuality, abortion, feminism and child care; identifies inter- organizational connections in the form of leadership linkages, infonnatiorvresearch exchanges and joint activities; and explores supportive and antagonistic relations between pro-famil y organizational allies and their organizational opponents. Based on a combination of documentary analyses of pro-family publications and semi-structured intemiews with six pro-family leaden my findings indicate ideological differentiation exists within the pro-family field; pro-family relationships with allies are characterized as respectful and relationships with organizational opponents are often adversarial. I conclude with a brief discussion of how feminists can confront the challenge presented by pro-family anti-feminism. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS To Tom Lan&ord. my thesis supervisor whose guidance. careful reading and constructive criticism have helped me produce a unique piece of work. His assistance in developing my analytical and critical thinking skills is greatly appreciated To Gayle Gilchrist James and Gillian Ranson for their thoughthtful comments. To Barbara Crow for her mentoring and encouragement. To the participants whose participation contributed to the richness of this study. And to all who have supported me in my educational endeavours. Thank you. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page . Approval Page ......................................................................................................................... 11 ... Abstract .................................................................................................................................. 111 Acknowled~emems................................................................................................................ iv Table of Contents ..................................................................................................................... v List of Tables ......................................................................................................................... vii CHAPTER ONE: THE PRO-FAMILY MaVEMENT IN CALGARY ...............................1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 1 Oven-iew of Research Problems and Questions ................................................... -3 Chapter Outline ................................................................................................... 3 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVEW .......................................................................... 7 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 7 Theoretical and Empirical Context ....................................................................... -7 An Overview of the Canadian Pro-family Literature ...........................................19 Anti-abortion Politics .......................................................................................... 27 Underlying Anti-feminism? .............................................................................. 35 Defining and Conceptualizing the Pro-family Movement ...................................39 American and British Literature on the Pro-family Movement ........................ 42 CHAPTER THREE:RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY ................................ 50 introduction .........................................................................................................50 Research Problems and Questions: The Need for Knowledge ........................... 51 Theoretical and Empirical Context: The 'Multi-organizational field' ............... 52 Anti-feminist Sentiment .......................................~.............................................. 54 The Anti-abortion Movement ..............................................................................55 Defining the Pro-family Movement .................................................................... -56 Research Design ....................... .... .................................................................57 Documentary Analyses ....................................................................................... -60 Semi-Structured Interviews ................................................................................. 64 Population and Sampling ..................................................................................... 73 Ethical Concerns ......................................... Explanations and Generalizations ...................................................................... -86 CHAPTER FOUR: PRO-FAMILY ORGANIZATIONAL IDEOLOGY ...............................89 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 89 Pro-family Definitions of Family - "The nuclear family is NOT a pnei' ......... 89 '"The Homosexual Agenda" ................... ... .................................................. 108 Page The Abortion Issue ............................................................................................1 I5 An Anti-feminist Impulse .................................................................................. 1 25 Family Care and Tax Equality ............................ .. ..................................I 39 Summary ........................................................................................................... -153 Notes ........................ ,... ............................................................................