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How Did The Famous Five Affect The Rights Of Women In Canada

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Today, Canada is known as a free country. As a nation, it welcomes people of both sexes with different culture, beliefs, race, and religion. However, Canada was not always a welcoming country. In the past, women had to overcome many obstacles within society, such as being denied in education, social aspects and in the workplace. They were not allowed to vote or run for political positions because they were not considered as “people”. Gender equality is achievable in Canada because, in the last century, the Famous Five had fought for women to gain equal rights, women have shown that they were just as capable as men, and they have gained respect from society. The efforts of the Famous Five had a lasting effect on the rights of women in Canada …show more content…

The government did not care what women were feeling and how they were being treated. On January 1, 1916, one of the members, Emily Murphy, became the first female to be a judge in the Commonwealth. Her first day in court, lawyers would begin their presentation by objecting to having a case being heard by a woman judge because they said, women were not defined as ‘people’ by the British North America Act of 1867. In fact, the term of that act said that women were people, “in matters of pain and penalties” but “not people in matters of rights and privileges” (Cruickshank 5). Then the Person’s Case begun and it was a historical significance to Canada’s …show more content…

Although many women went back to being homemakers times would never be the same again (“Women” 3). The experience they had during WWII was remarkable for them, but they were told to go back home while the men go to work. Women were not having it, they wanted to prove that they were capable as men. When the world saw what women were doing other than being a housewife, their perspective on women change. People were now starting to realize that women could do so much more than cleaning and cooking. The overall result that was created by women in the workforce and the military was an increase in equality between the sexes and a huge change in gender

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She campaigned for the protection of women and children, who, in the late 19th century and early 20th century, had meager protection under the law2. In 1916, Murphy was, arguably, the catalyst for the Persons Case with her involvement in a trial in which women were accused of prostitution. This trial was attended by Murphy and other women but they were rejected on the basis that women were not welcome at the tribunal. Murphy appealed to Charles Wilson Cross, the Attorney General of Alberta, by saying “if the evidence is not fit for mixed company, then the government must set up a court presided by women, to try other women1.” Unexpectedly, the Attorney General agreed and appointed her as the Police Magistrate of the Court of Edmonton1.

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As World War 2 progresses, we will see millions of males being drafted after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. This created a lack of manpower in the workforce which women beginning to take the jobs that men usually before the war. As women move into the workforce during World War 2 they will experience inequality and discrimination. Despite the inequality and discrimination that women had to endure to while working during World War 2 was a good experience for women across America. Women entered the workforce open up many opportunities, “It had been long assumed women couldn't do those jobs -- engineering, other professions in the sciences, manufacturing jobs that had been considered men's work, things women were believed to be too weak to do” (kcts9.org).

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From the 1st of September 1939 to the 2nd of September 1945, life in Australia experienced drastic change. These six years and one day were the catalyst for a radical shift in Australian women’s place in society, ultimately leading to their emancipation from previous roles. The Second World War was instrumental in the liberation of Australian women as their shift away from traditional roles, improved financial equality and increased military participation led to empowerment and new freedoms. The most prominent of these factors in the liberation of Australian women was their emancipation from previous roles. World War Two catalysed the empowerment of women through their emancipation from previous roles in society.

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Throughout her life, Nellie McClung strove to improve the quality of life not just for women but for all Canadians. Her goals to achieve recognition and acceptance for women who traditionally had been denied a role in the institutions and organizations which governed both Canadian politics and culture made her a revolutionary feminist. Through her support of female suffrage, prohibition, the persons case, and the representation of women in the workforce, McClung's efforts brought forth change in Canadian society. To start off, Nellie McClung started her journey to change history in 1897, when she joined the W.C.T.U (Women’s Christian Temperance Union) in Manitou.

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Despite society being against Equality and Victoria, they both still stand by their principles. Equality 7-2521 and Victoria Woodhull both share such a strong belief in their convictions that they have the courage to stand firmly by them, even though society is resistant to

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In more detail, this book provides us with knowledge on specific events through time that women faced on their way to gender equality. Major arguments in this book include, struggle with the law, war, social change, demographic change, making a living and the continuation of change. Marsden provides evidence to support each one of these arguments using critical analysis of information. She explains to readers the significance of this specific aspect in Canadian history, especially for women. This book not only provides us with more knowledge on the journey that women went through to achieve equal rights, it also shows us how far women have gone to accomplish gender equality and how much further we still have to

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World War 1 played a crucial role in aiding the movement for female equality in Canada, however, it also hindered it by contributing to the enforcement of gender roles in the workplace. Not one single event will end the constant battle women must endure in all aspects of life, though certain opportunities, such as the job opportunities received during the war, most certainly help women in the fighting of said battle. When numerous jobs were left open by men who were called to the front lines of the war, women were finally presented with the opportunity to work outside of their homes for the first time and provide for their families. Next, generous amounts of awareness of social change were brought to light for women’s contributions throughout

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In addition to Emily Murphy, many women activist saw this act as a discrimination against all women, believing the purpose of a women’s life was as important as the purpose of a man’s life and therefore women should be able to make the best possible contribution to the generation in which they were living in and being labeled as a non-person by law would not allow that to happen. After the war efforts continued the domino effect of improving women’s status Emily Murphy, Canadian Women's Rights activist, enlisted four Canadian women brought together by shared beliefs and together the five women, fighting for women’s rights, brought forward the “The Persons Case” to change the 1928 decision of the Supreme Court of Canada’s ruling that women were not “persons” according to the British North American Act, and therefore were not able to be eligible for an appointment to the Senate. (James, 2001). These five Canadian women and their unrelenting campaign in the Persons Case led to one of the biggest improvements to women’s status in society. In 1929

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On July 28th, 1914 was when the First World War happened, which occurred in central Europe. WW1 and WW2 had a huge impact on women’s life, which from the start made women’s life change. Women played a huge role in changing their roles in the Canadian society. Prior to the war women had very little rights and were overruled by the men of the country. Although as the years began to go by things began to change slowly but surely for the women, for the better.

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World War One was a time in Canadian history where our courage and bravery in the face of danger was proven many times over. However, it was not just our troops who showed bravery and fought to make a change. In fact, the actions of groups and individuals in this time period made Canada stronger. This is due to the Famous Five and their suffrage movement. This is also because of the Group of Seven.

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In 1939, no one thought that women, who weren 't even considered people decades before, would have such a massive impact in the Second World War. Canadian women 's contribution to the war effort, and their role at the home front and overseas had greatly increased since the previous, devastating First World War. The Second World War brought change to Canadian women on an unpredictable scale, though their volunteer work, paid labour force, and their contributions in the armed forces. Surely without the contributions made by the Canadian women, Canada and her allies would not have been as successful as they were. By far, the prime contribution made by Canadian women to the war effort came through their unpaid labour as volunteer work.

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When the war started, women had to take over the jobs of men and they learned to be independent. These women exemplified the beginning of change.

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The 1920’s was a time of progress due to many different reasons that shaped our country to what it is today. Women’s rights have progressed in many ways that have improved the lives of women in that time period and is the reason women have the rights and privileges they have in Canada today. Women have gained the right to vote, even though not all women have gained this right, it was still a step in the right direction of progression. Women gaining this right was definitely progression in our country because of the amount of women fighting for this privilege and it made our country what it is today and is the main reason women 's rights and equality has come so far in our country. Our technology also progressed and improved a lot at that time

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Adding on to other limitations, women almost had no freedom in their marriage. Before the women’s rights movement, when a woman is married the “husband and wife are one person” but “that person is the husband” (Doc 7). Once a woman is married, her rights and property were governed by the husband. Married women could not make wills or dispose of any property without their husband’s consent to do so.

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