The Person’s Case movement was a major step for women’s rights in Canada. The change allowed women to undertake leadership roles in the Canadian government, as well as gain access to public life. Although these opportunities gave women the ability to make contributions to Canada, it also allows them to participate in future events to come to make an impact in the world Winning the fight to have women in Canada identified as ‘persons’ under the law, opened numerous doors for them in Canadian politics. Early in 1930, only four months after the Persons Case had been won, the first female Canadian senator Cairine Wilson had been appointed . With more women obtaining these positions of political prestige, the voices and opinions of Canadian women …show more content…
Due to the fact that women were not qualified ‘persons’ under the law prevented them from participating fully in and having a say in bettering these aspects of society. The argument was that if women were not even persons then they should have zero rights. Yet women already obtained rights of public and social life, such as the right to vote in 1919. Having the monumental victory of The Persons Case attracted support for more different reform movements such as the National Council of Women of Canada (NCWC) that have existed for decades. As the years passed the rights of women began to expand as more and more women lobbied for their rights. Prior to winning The Persons Case, some women were already working and involved in parts of society and public life alongside men. But once women became ‘persons’, men were stripped of the legal ability to challenge a woman’s positions of power, creating a more respectable and free work and public life …show more content…
Being in a state of “total warfare” caused mothers to become munition worker. In early 1918 Ottawa considered organizing a “Canadian Women’s Auxiliary Corps” for clerical and administrative duties, but the war ended before anything could be carried out. In just over twenty years later, the Second World War had broken out and in 1941 “The Canadian Women’s Army Corps” was formed. The women in the army corps argued that they were in a state of “total war” it demanded a total effort from all Canadian persons, which women were now able to identify as. The change to have the term ‘persons’ address both men and women was a change that applied to the British North American Act. In 1982 the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms was established. It now included an entire section devoted to Equality Rights, including gender equality. If women had not been made equal to men in the legal sense during 1929, Section 15 of the Charter may not even
In Canada, women make up slightly more than half of the population. However, throughout Canadian history and modern day, women are needing to stand up for themselves and other women to bring about change. Canadian women are strong and have the power to work together and bring about change. Jennie Trout stood up for Canadian women that wanted to be in the medical field, women during WWI made a difference in their lives by entering the workplace and standing for their right to work, Nellie McClung was a leader for women’s suffrage, and The Famous Five campaigned and won The “Persons” Case allowing women to be considered persons under the Canadian Constitution. These women were instigators of change. Change for women only occurs when ambitious and courageous women stand up for a difference that they deserve.
“Even in the modern day world, women struggle against discriminatory stigmas based on their sex. However, the beginnings of the feminist movement in the early 20th century set in motion the lasting and continuing expansion of women's rights” (Open Websites). One such organization that pushed for women’s rights was the National American Women Suffrage Association (NAWSA) established in 1890. The NAWSA was the largest suffrage organization and worked toward securing the right to vote. The NAWSA however was split into two, the NAWSA and the National Women’s Party (NWP), when suffragists were disagreeing on how to achieve their goal.
In the year 1957, Canada elected its first Prime minister without English or French root, John Diefenbaker. While growing up in the city of Toronto, because of his German name, he was often teased. [1] He grew up as an outcast, and so he was able to relate to the discrimination and inequality many of the minorities in Canada felt. This essay will attempt to answer the question: To what extent did Prime Minister John Diefenbaker help promote equality to the minority communities. . The minorities in this time period were the women, aboriginals, and immigrants. During his time as the Prime Minister, he was able to help protect the rights of this group because many of their rights were being abused by the society. Diefenbaker also helped the minorities to stand up for themselves and other groups. Diefenbaker was able to bring positive change to the minority communities by making an official Bill of Rights and appointing people of discriminated groups to the parliament while other members did not.
Annie McClung introduced Nellie McClung to the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, W.C.T.U.. Annie McClung, “showed Nellie the urgency for women’s rights in the issues of temperance and female suffrage” (****-1981). Soon, Nellie became a temperance leader herself and joined the W.T.C.U.. This involvement would prove to be a huge aspect in Nellie McClung’s life, one that could contribute to her legacy in Canadian history. From this guidance of Annie McClung, Nellie was also introduced to being a speaker and the campaign of universal franchise. In addition to the deep social concerns Annie McClung brought into Nellie’s life, she also introduced Nellie to her son, Wesley McClung.
However, the writers of the Constitution had omitted women in that pivotal statement which left women to be denied these “unalienable” rights given to every countryman. Gaining the support of many, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the leader of the Women’s Rights Movement declared at Seneca Falls that women had the same rights as men including the right to vote and be a part of government. The Women’s Rights movement gained support due to the years of abuse women endured. For years, men had “the power to chastise and imprison his wife…” and they were tired of suffering (Doc I). The new concept of the cult of domesticity supported women’s roles in society but created greater divisions between men and women.
Most women in Canada before World War One (WWI) were treated poorly compared to the men. Women were dehumanized and were not looked as any worth or value. During WW1 women’s roles in Canada changes to a great extent. The war influence change in the work force and politics. Women had to take on jobs of the men who went to war to keep the established economic system running. In 1911 before the war 16.6% of the female population of 2,521,000 participated in the labour force. During the war in 1921 the participation rate increased from 418,486 female workers to 563,578. War changed their roles greatly as before women were housewives, they would raise the children and do household chores. Now during the war they were needed as men went overseas
During America's early history, women were denied some of the rights to well-being by men. For example, married women couldn't own property and had no legal claim to any money that they might earn, and women hadn't the right to vote. They were expected to focus on housework and motherhood, and didn't have to join politics. On the contrary, they didn't have to be interested in them. Then, in order to ratify this amendment they were prompted to a long and hard fight; victory took decades of agitation and protest. Beginning in the 19th century, some generations of women's suffrage supporters lobbied to achieve what a lot of Americans needed: a radical change of the Constitution. The movement for women's rights began to organize after 1848 at the national level. In July of that year, reformers Elizabeth Cady Stanton(1815-1902) and Lucretia Mott (1793-1880), along with Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906) and other activists organized the first convention for women's rights at Seneca Falls, New York. More than 300 people, mostly women but also some men, attended it. Then, they raised public awar...
The contentious little book titled Women, Power, Politics maintains politics to be devalued, acknowledging the fact that only few people do vote, and women are unable to achieve within the realm of Canadian politics. Sylvia Bashevkin, the author of the book argues that Canadians have a profound unease with women in positions of political authority, what she calls the "women plus power equals discomfort" equation. She evaluates a range of barriers faced by women who enter politics, including the media's biased role of representing the private lives of women in politics, and she wonders why citizens find politics is underrepresented in Canada compared to Belgium. In clear, accessible terms, Bashevkin explains her ideas on how to eliminate “low voters turn-out,” “devaluation of politics,” "gender schemas," and "media framing.” She outlines some compelling solutions to address the stalemate facing women in Canadian politics which are; contesting media portrayals, changing the rule of the game, improving legislative quotas, electoral reform, movement renewals, and so on. This response paper would addresses the reality of a political mainstream, actions which should be taken against the oppressive elements of reality, and the awareness it brings through economic, social, and political environment.
During the 1960's and 70's, North America saw the rise of a counterculture movement which instigated societal change. During this time period, the Women's Liberation movement was able to establish females as being equal to males in virtually every aspect. It is this movement that educated society about the role of women in society being equal to the role of man. Many people however, now consider that women's liberation has been achieved; but this is far from the case. Despite being officially recognised as contributing members of society (achieved in 1982 with the final draft of the Constitution Act), as section 28 of...
“Honey, you’re not a person, now get back in the kitchen and make me a sandwich!” If a husband were to say these words to his wife today, he would likely receive a well-deserved smack to the face. It is not until recently that Canadian women have received their status as people and obtained equal rights as men. Women were excluded from an academic education and received a lesser pay than their male counter parts. With the many hardships women had to face, women were considered the “slave of slaves” (Women’s Rights). In the past century, women have fought for their rights, transitioning women from the point of being a piece of property to “holding twenty-five percent of senior positions in Canada” (More women in top senior positions: Report). The Married Women’s Property Act, World War I, The Person’s Case, and Canadian Human Rights Act have gained Canadian women their rights.
Canada that changes were made. Bliss’s argument was soundly defeated in the court ultimately, however, a coalition of feminist and civil liberties groups took the court case, as a need for change. Many feminists have suggested that the Bliss decision demonstrates both the problems with formal equality and the limited effectiveness of the Bill of Rights for equality litigation. It was just the beginning of a series of events that would lead to a complete overhaul of Unemployment benefit conditions and changes in the Canadian Charter of rights and freedoms.The Bliss case led women's groups to demand stronger equality rights in section 15 of the Charter, “Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical
In Alberta, Nellie continued fighting for women’s rights. She joined the Edmonton Equal Franchise League which fought for women’s rights, prohibition and factory safety legislation. In 1921, Nellie was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta as a Liberal member. Here, she fought for mother’s allowances, public health nursing, free medical and dental care for children, divorce laws, and improved property rights for married women. Unfortunately, Nellie was defeated in 1925 after serving one term.
The Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 started a women’s rights movement; a small group of women demanded the right to vote, claim progress in property rights, experience employment and educational opportunities, have social freedoms, and other essential demands touching every aspect of life. Women wanted a change and needed a new place in society. They did not have the most basic democratic equality of all, the equal right to vote, until the 19th amendment was adopted in 1920. As they gained the right to vote, women began feeling the right to explore other opportunities.
Cameron, Jamie. "Justice in Her Own Right: Bertha Wilson and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms." The Law Society of Upper Canada. N.p., 2008. Web. 29 Dec. 2013. .
Sixty- nine years after the Declaration of Independence, one group of women gathered together and formed the Seneca Falls Convention. Prior and subsequent to the convention, women were not allowed to vote because they were not considered equal to men. During the convention, Elizabeth Cady Stanton delivered the “Declaration of Sentiments.” It intentionally resembles the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men and women are created equal…” (Stanton, 466). She replaced the “men” with “men and women” to represent that women and men should be treated equally. Stanton and the other women in the convention tried to fight for voting rights. Dismally, when the Equal Rights Amendment was introduced to the Congress, the act failed to be passed. Even though women voiced their opinions out and urged for justice, they could not get 2/3 of the states to agree to pass the amendment. Women wanted to tackle on the voting inequalities, but was resulted with more inequalities because people failed to listen to them. One reason why women did not achieve their goals was because the image of the traditional roles of women was difficult to break through. During this time period, many people believed that women should remain as traditional housewives.