Shaping Destinies

By December 1958, Canada had admitted almost 38,000 Hungarian refugees, forced to flee their country after Soviet forces crushed the October 1956 uprising. A rich historiography has examined this migration from a range of perspectives, but an analysis women’s actions and attitudes represents uncharted approach. Archival research reveals that Canadian women expressed opinions took on variety roles related refugee movement. Examining those not only offers novel perspective Canada’s response crisis, it also provides insights into evolving in society. The weight intersectionality often muted voices origin, both Canadians refugees. Yet, were accorded symbolic power played its own role movement, they found ways exercise agency achieve desired admission settlement outcomes. (ST)