Post-War Canadian Women Analysis

“We may yet live to see that day when women will no longer be news. And it cannot come too soon. I want to be a peaceful, happy, normal human being, pursuing my unimpeded way through life, never having to explain, defend, or apologize for my sex” (Nellie McClung, 1929). Throughout most of history, men have had greater rights than women. In present days, the equality between men and women have improved, despite the fact that some countries are still striving to establish those same rights for both genders. What impact did Nellie McClung make on Canadian society? She is a perfect example of a Canadian social activist who advocated for the rights of women throughout the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. In this essay, I will examine the depictions of the fight for suffrage and the stand for electoral office, in addition to the contribution of the Famous 5 and the type of feminism she represented in order to demonstrate the impact and influence she had as a Canadian woman.

After women were declared as persons, women’s role in society increased. Although none of the Famous Five was appointed as a senator, Carine Wilson became the first female senator 1 year later. Also, the Persons Case allowed women to vote

During the late 19th century and early 20th century, many American women began to feel a sense of hope that one day, they would achieve the same freedom as men had. However, women quickly realized that in order to gain the freedom they desire, they would have to change the social expectations of their time. History played a major part in helping change the social expectations, especially during World War 1 and World War 2, when women went to work and took on the jobs previously performed by American men who were fighting overseas. Many factors have contributed to the changes of social expectations concerning women’s roles in society due to the personal efforts of individual woman and groups of women who band together to fight for their independence

Health, a basic human rights an important factor for development. Though Women is most societies live longer than men because of biological and behavioural factors (WHO, 2009 p-xi) but WHO is worried that in some societies this factors are subdued by gender base discrimination 2009 report of WHO named “Women and Health stressed that the health needs of women and girls are different from men and are the needs are met far from the expected ones.

On October 18, 1927, the Minister of Justice submitted a report to the Governor General of Canada regarding a petition submitted by Henrietta Muir Edwards, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney, Emily Murphy and Irene Parlby. Together, these female Canadians were called the Famous 5. The Famous 5's petition requested the Governor General to make the Supreme Court of Canada consider whether women were eligible to become Senators under the British North America Act. The petition, written in letter form by Emily Murphy, asked the following question to the Supreme Court: “Does the ‘Person’ in section 24 of the British North American Act, 1867, include female persons?” Section 24 of the British North American Act, 1867, states that “The Governor General shall… summon qualified Persons to the Senate… every Person so summoned shall become and be a Member of the Senate and a Senator”. Emily Murphy also asked the Court, in the same letter, if there “Is power vested in the Governor-General of Canada, or the Parliament of Canada, or either of them, to appoint a female to the Senate of Canada?” Unfortunately, the Court responded that the term “Persons” was synonymous to only males. However, the Famous 5 appealed to the Privy Council of England, which in 1929 reversed the Court’s decision. The Persons Case opened the Senate to women, enabling Emily Murphy to be

Hi, Kathleen as you mention in your post woman gain momentum in the workplace. However, women didn’t have the same opportunities as man until World War One. The woman made several advances. (Ryan, 2006). Before that time, there were few professions for women. The woman did numerous jobs that were unheard of before the war. Government position was held by woman helping them to establish laws for woman rights. In the progressive era, the 19th amendment was establish giving women the right to vote. Despite their achievement woman in the workforce still add a long way before they would receive equal

Women’s rights have improved drastically since that time but there still is a stigma that men are better than women. This type of view is wrong and shouldn’t even be thought about in the world we live into today. Woman server a great purpose in the world we live in and should be considered equal in all aspects of life. If one were to ponder this idea seriously we can see without out women no children are born. The sad truth is that women still have to fight for their rights in every aspect of their daily lives. The typical women in society makes only .70 cents for every dollar that a man would make doing the same job. One would think that one hundred and fifty years later women would be considered equal counterparts to men. “There has been progress toward greater workplace equality, but we still have a long ways to

Emily Murphy along with four other women, more commonly referred to as The Famous Five, presented their case in front of the Supreme Court of Canada, to get women declared as persons too. Unfortunately, they lost the case, but they still did not lose hope. They then presented their case in front of His Majesty’s Privy Council in London. Finally, on October 18th 1929, the verdict was announced and was in the favour of the Famous Five.2 This case was a huge victory for women living all around Canada, since it helped them be viewed in a different perspective. Women were now finally recognized as individuals. Winning the Person's Case is a huge step towards reaching a level of true equality and evidently this case could not have been won without the support, hard work and dedication provided by Emily Murphy.

In the article Colonialism and First Nations Women in Canada by Winona Stevenson, the author explains the struggle First Nations women had keeping their culture alive. Upon arriving in America the Europeans suffocated the natives with their rationalisation of female subjugation. Reluctant to give up their traditions and honour the native-American women put up a fight, but their efforts would not be strong enough to triumph over the European missionaries. Stevenson chronologically explains their contact with the ‘colonial agencies'.

Despite the years of oppression, women have overcome sexism and have made a difference. Since the late 18th century, around The French Revolution, women have been fighting for equality, freedom, and rights. These women became known as feminist. Feminists have been fighting for years, and to this day, for equal rights, and they have won many battles. Here are some examples in recent history of how women succeeded: from 1916-1920, women started Women’s suffrage. The 19th Amendment passed allowing women the rights

The Famous Five were determined to earn the right to be called persons in court because it opened the Senate to women which enabled them to work for change in the House of Commons and the Senate. Also, women could no longer be denied rights based on the wrong interpretations of the law, so incidents like this don't happen again. " This decision marks the abolition of sex in politics…. Personally, I do not care whether or not women ever sit in the Senate, but we fought for the privilege for them to do so. We sought to establish the personal individuality of women and this decision is the announcement of our victory.

The Persons Case was a law enforcing the right of women to be appionted to Senate. It was initiated by the Famous Five when the Supreme Court of Canada decreed in 1928 that women were not official 'persons' according to the British North America Act (BNA Act now known as the Constitution Act) and were apparently unsuitable for appiontment of the Senate. The Famous Five then adressed the Privy Counsil of England about the issue that later changed the Court's decision in 1929.

Nevertheless, institutes rapidly spread from their base in Halifax, Nova Scotia. These new adult learning sites are spread wildly. For example, in the New Brunswick the progress is slower then in Nova Scotia. Prince Edward Island created a riot of literary associations, such as mutual instruction societies, subscription libraries and various kinds of debating societies. Many other future provinces within the Confederation followed its path.

It was uncertain to what extent did women’s participation in WWI changed the attitude and position of women in post-war Europe. One thing assured is that women’s wartime efforts were recognized in the years after WWI. In recognition of women’s support during the war, Canada, the United States, Britain, and a number of European countries extended suffrage to women. It seems that the turbulence and the despair of World War I had caused a re-examination of many of the treasured values in many western societies, including gender expectations.

The belief of “Feminism” affected the social interaction between men and women by creating social issues amongst them and that led to protests and a worldwide movement sanctioned by women to get the equality they deserved. One feminist, Jane Addams, states in her speech on Women and War, “The belief that a women is against war simply because she is a women and not a man, does not, of course, hold. In every country there are many, many women who believe that the War is inevitable and righteous, and that the highest possible service is being performed by their sons who go into the army; just as there are thousands of men believing that in every country; the majority of women and men doubtless believe that”