Jean Rands (born Mary Jean Rands) was raised in Saskatchewan in the 1950s. Her parents, Stan Rands and Doris Rands (née Fraser), were both prominent figures in social activist circles in the province. She had two siblings: an older brother, Brian Rands, and a younger sister, Ailsa Curiel (née Rands). Jean attended high school in Regina at Sheldon-Williams Collegiate, and was politically and socially engaged from an early age. A member of the Young Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), Jean regularly participated in peace marches and joined picket lines in support of striking workers during her school years.

In 1963, Jean moved to Toronto with her long-term partner, Al (Allan) Engler. There she was a member of the League for Socialist Action (LSA), a Trotskyist socialist organization. In 1968, at age 19, Jean relocated to Vancouver, and began work as a typesetter for the student newspaper at Simon Fraser University. She became involved with the SFU Women’s Caucus, and grew increasingly active in feminist labour organizing, especially in sectors with high participation of women workers which the Canadian labour movement had historically neglected. Throughout the 1970s and 80s, Jean was active as a labour organizer, particularly with SORWUC (the Service, Office, and Retail Workers’ Union of Canada) and several of its local chapters. She was a founding member of both AUCE (Association of University and College Employees) and SORWUC, and served in executive positions in both organizations. She maintained a lifelong interest and commitment to labour and feminist issues, which are reflected in her speaking and writing.

Over the course of her life, Jean worked in typesetting and clerical positions with several employers in Vancouver and Toronto. She retired in Vancouver in 2010.