Essay On Emily Murphy

Emily Murphy (born as Emily Gowan Ferguson) was an equal rights activist born in Cookstown, Ontario on March 16th, 1868. She came from a wealthy family and had the parents who were supportive of her receiving an education. As well, she had a politician uncle which has influenced her to gain an interest in politics. After marring theology student Arthur Murphy, they had 4 daughters (which 2 tragically died as time passed) and later moved to Swan River, Manitoba and then Edmonton, Alberta. Her endless efforts has helped create the Dower Act in 1911. Murphy became the first female magistrate in the British Empire in 1916. She is widely known for her role in the ‘Persons Case’ which has gained Canadian women rights and be considered a ‘person’

She later died on October 13th, 1933 in Edmonton, Alberta.

Emily Murphy was very determined in getting women's rights recognized in Canada and around the world. This can be seen through the long haul of efforts that was put to create the Dower Act. When she and her family moved to Alberta in 1903, she began a movement to make sure married women get property rights. After learning about a case where the sale of a family farm gave all the funds created by the sale to the husband and left the wife with nothing, she was motivated to make a change and was able to pass the Dower Act through the legislation of Alberta to guarantee a one-third share of the husband's property. Later on, when Murphy decided to become a senator, she was denied the ability to do so as under the British North American Act, women were not considered a person. She thought that it was outrageous that with all the accomplishments from her past such as being an author and being the first female magistrate of the British Empire, has not helped her be considered a person. Emily

Throughout Murphy's entire journey and fight for the equality of women, she faced many hardships. In the twelve years of toil that was put to gain women’s rights, Murphy faced negative comments and ridicule for a cause that can change women’s’ lives forever. Of course one would be scared in a situation where they face threats from people that do not understand what it is like to not have the ability to do certain jobs but, Emily Murphy just put it behind her and continued to strive to do what women deserve. Even if it was just a front, Murphy’s courage and fearlessness helped inspire many women and make them realize that hard work and patience pays of if you just