OPEL (Open Paths to Enriched Learning)

It has been four decades since the publication of Adrienne Rich's Of Woman Born but her analysis of maternity and the archetypal Mother remains a powerful critique, as relevant today as it was at the time of writing. It was Rich who first defined the term 'motherhood' as referent to a patriarchal institution that was male-defined, male controlled, and oppressive to women. To empower women, Rich proposed the use of the word 'mothering': a word intended to be female-defined. It is between these two ideas-that of a patriarchal history and a feminist future-that the introductory text, Interrogating Motherhood, begins. Ross explores the topic of mothering from the perspective of Western society and encourages students and readers to identify and critique the historical, social, and political contexts in which mothers are understood. By examining popular culture, employment, public policy, poverty, 'other' mothers, and mental health, Interrogating Motherhood describes the fluid and shifting nature of the practice of mothering and the complex realities that define contemporary women's lives.

How does the current labor market training system function and whose interests does it serve? In this introductory textbook, Bob Barnetson wades into the debate between workers and employers, and governments and economists to investigate the ways in which labor power is produced and reproduced in Canadian society. After sifting through the facts and interpretations of social scientists and government policymakers, Barnetson interrogates the training system through analysis of the political and economic forces that constitute modern Canada. This book not only provides students of Canada's division of labor with a general introduction to the main facets of labor-market training-including skills development, post-secondary and community education, and workplace training-but also encourages students to think critically about the relationship between training systems and the ideologies that support them.

Workplace injuries happen every day and can profoundly affect workers, their families, and the communities in which they live. This textbook is for workers and students looking for an introduction to injury prevention on the job. It offers an extensive overview of central occupational health and safety (OHS) concepts and practices and provides practical suggestions for health and safety advocacy. Foster, Cake, and Barnetson bring the field into the twenty-first century by including discussions of how precarious employment, gender, and ill-health can be better handled in Canadian OHS. Although they address the gendered and racialized dimensions of new work processes and structures in contemporary workplaces, Foster, Cake, and Barnetson contend that occupational health and safety can only be understood if we acknowledge that workers and employers have conflicting interests. Who identifies what workplace hazards should be controlled is therefore a product of the broader political economy of employment and one that should be well understood by those working in the field. The newly revised second edition updates key information and discusses OHS topics related to emerging issues such as COVID-19 and climate change. It offers an expanded discussion of chemical and biological hazards and provides all-new learning activities and exercises. An introduction to occupational health and safety (OHS) and injury prevention for workers and students, combining core concepts with practical guidance for health and safety advocacy. Jason Foster is a professor of human resources and labour relations at Athabasca University. He is also Director of Parkland Institute, a public interest research centre based at the University of Alberta. He is the author of Defying Expectations: The Case of UFCW Local 401, Gigs, Hustles and Temps, The Practice of Human Resource Management in Canada (with Bob Barnetson), and Industrial Relations in Canada, 5th ed. (with Fiona A.E. McQuarrie). He is a former president of the Canadian Industrial Relations Association. Susan Cake is an associate professor in human resources and labour relations at Athabasca University. She has worked as a worker advocate specializing in OHS, workers' compensation systems, and pensions. Her current research interests include union relevance and renewal, government workplace policy and regulations, and child care. Bob Barnetson was a professor of labour relations at Athabasca University. His previous books include Political Economy of Workplace Injury in Canada, Canada's Labour Market Training System, and The Practice of Human Resource Management in Canada (with Jason Foster). Acknowledgements Preface 1 Workplace Injury in Theory and Practice 2 Legislative Framework of Injury Prevention and Compensation 3 Hazard Recognition, Assessment, and Control 4 Physical Hazards 5 Chemical Hazards 6 Biological Hazards 7 Psycho-social Hazards 8 Health Effects of Employment 9 Training and Injury Prevention Programs 10 Incident Investigation 11 Disability Management and Return to Work 12 The Practice of Health and Safety Notes About the Authors