Looking Through My Mother's Eyes

Giovanna Del Negro takes a serious look at the traditional, yet subversive, world of women's folklore. By examining the undervalued realm of women's talk, this book explores the ways Italian immigrant women from Montreal cleverly use classic folk genres to stretch the boundaries of their culture. Through songs, lullabies, bawdy riddles and trickster tales, these women subvert, redefine and alter what it means to be Italian and female in North America. More than just a study of Italian Canadians, this essay delves into the broader themes of gender, immigration and ethnicity that speak compellingly to both scholarly and non-scholarly audiences alike. The voices of these women pierce through the homogenizing interpretations of traditional, historical scholarship and show how everyday experience is filled with rich social meanings from which we can all learn.