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Emily Murphy was a Canadian women's rights activist, jurist, and author born on March 14, 1868 and died of diabetes in October 17, 1933. She is a main contributor to women's rights movement in Canada during the early 1900’s. Born into a prominent Ontario family, with relatives in business, politics and the law, including two Supreme Court judges, Murphey was very interested in politics and legal matters. Her own grandfather was the founder of the first Orange Order Lodge, that got Catholics and Orangemen together in 1836 to support the conservative cause. Murphy was a long-time executive member of the Canadian Women's Press Club (president 1913–20), the National Council of Women of Canada, and the Federated Women's Institutes of Canada (first …show more content…
national president). She had even invested her time with 20 other professional and volunteer organizations. However, as much as Emily Murphy her done, her biggest achievement in canadian political history is winning the “Persons Case,” the case that led to the start of women in more important political power. In the March of 1916, participants of the Edmonton Local Council of Women were trying to attend the trial of numerous women who had been arrested as prostitutes.
The women were dismissed from the court due to the reason that the testimony was "not fit for mixed company." Murphy and several other women were angered, and protested to the provincial Attorney General.
"If the evidence is not fit to be heard in mixed company," she debated, "then ... the government … [must] set up a special court presided over by women, to try other women."
Surprising the Minister agreed, and made Murphy the judge of that court, making her the first woman magistrate in the British Empire. However, on her first day as the judge, she was questioned by a lawyer who declared, as a women, she was not a person in the eyes of the British Law. This led Murphy to start the famous “Persons Case” to prove that women were considered persons and therefore allowed to be appointed to any government job they were eligible for, like the senate. The Famous Five; Louise McKinney, Henrietta Edwards, Nellie McClung, Irene Parlby and herself, led the Persons Case to The supreme court of Canada. After losing the case from Canada, they carried on their battle to the highest court in the British Empire; the Privy Council in Britain. In 1929, women were indeed declared as persons under the British North American Act.. Emily Murphy wanted all women to have the right to be able to serve in an important political power positions and because of the Persons Case, they were allowed
to. Due to Emily Murphy’s struggle of OJHWR’G years, she and the Famous Five are the reason that women can now run for important political positions, such as the senate. Her fight enabled women to be considered people just like men, which no longer allowed men to deprive them of their rights established on a narrow understanding of the law. Murphy’s fights paved a the way for the women's rights movement which in present days, allows women to vote for elections and work in any high standard “man job”, they please.
died on September 1, 1951, in Victoria, British Columbia. She was part of an important social/political change in Canada because her contributions helped achieve woman suffrage and the advancement of women rights, including the eligibility to become a Senator. She was elected to the Alberta Legislature in 1921 and was the first woman on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s Board of Governors. In addition, she was a delegate to the League of Nations. In 1927, McClung and four other women: Henrietta Muir Edwards, Louis McKinney, Irene Parlby, and Emily Murphy came together to be known as the “Famous Five”. Emily Murphy’s authority to preside as a judge was challenged by a lawyer on the basis that women were not considered to be "persons" under the British North America Act. As a result, they launched the "Persons Case”. They asked the question, “Does the word persons in section 24 of...
Elizabeth Henderson, Trials, tribunals and tribulations: Brandy v Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission [1995] Sydney Law Review Vol. 17, 587
55), but this was taking away from Gladue not only by Barton, but also through the courts, as the case was acquitted. The constitution act also states in section fifteen subsection one that “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 disabilities” (Canada, Last revised 2016, p. 56); however, we notice that this case was acquitted was it because Gladue was of aboriginal descent or she worked as a prostitute or that she was simply just a women who has no power? As this leads us to assume such injustice were present in this court case, because if there was three other reported cases in Canada over a twenty year span where victims succumbed to their injuries resulted from rough sex, and those cases all defendants were convicted with murder charges, why was Barton’s case
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.
Canadian equal right activist, Emily Murphy was writer, journalist, and magistrate, political and legal former born on 14 March 1868 in Cookstown. Emily was the first magistrate of Canada, and is best known for her role in the Persons Case, the effective battle to have ladies proclaimed “persons” in the eyes of British law (Jackel, 2001). She launched the successful campaign for recognizing women as “persons” under the British law in Persons Case. In 1929, under the BNA Act, the women were declared as legal persons and could serve as the member of congress and judges. Some of her achievements also include: being the first female magistrate in the British Empire, author of several books, and president of the Women’s Canadian Club, and was active
The Golding Sisters lobbied for women’s rights to equal pay and employment. Annie Mackenzie (1855-1934) and Isabella Therese (1864-1940) began their careers teaching in both public and catholic schools (Kingston, 2013). Annie worked with infants and girls and later shifted to teaching at the Asylum for Destitute Children (Kingston, 2013). She was also a member on the State Children Relief Board. Belle left teaching early to pursue a career as the first female government inspector in 1900 (Lemon, 2008). With their sister Kate Dwyer (1861-1949), Labour leader and school teacher, the sister’s began the Womanhood Suffrage League in 1893 and the Woman’s Progressive Foundation in 1901 which aimed to combat the inability for women to work in certain industries and sit on juries (The Sunday Morning Herald, 1933). Belle’s research skills assisted in preparing the sister’s persuasive speeches and statements (Fawkner & Kelly, 1995). In 1921 Kate became a female Justice of Peace (Gallego, 2013). Kate also wrote extensively about politics, industries and women’s questions.
Women were able to reach an aspect of greater equality during the twentieth century, with the help of Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung and Agnes Macphail. Emily Murphy played a vital role in helping women reach a level of true equality during the twentieth century. When visiting a prairie farm, Emily Murphy noticed a stressed woman. The woman was stressed because her husband had sold their land and ran off to the United States, leaving the woman homeless. Becoming very determined, Emily Murphy set out to change the law.
Bertha Wilson, most commonly known as the first woman to be a judge at the Supreme Court of Canada and she is remembered as a great leader and changed the lives of many people. Bertha Wilson showed many good character traits that all contributed to her in becoming a successful leader. Bertha Wilson was very intelligent. The first woman to judge at the Supreme Court of Canada showed integrity towards the fact that woman and men should be treated equally. Bertha Wilson was courageous and brave. A good and successful leader must always be intelligent, show integrity and be determined.
Margaret Chase Smith began her political career when a woman in Congress was a rarity. She won her first seat in the US House after the death of her husband in 1940. In 1949, Smith won a seat in the United States Senate and became the first woman to be in both houses of the Congress . At this time, the Senate floor did not have a woman’s restroom . However, Smith refused to believe that her gender made a difference in her career in politics .
The famous five brought the persons case upon the supreme court of Canada in 1927, which was finally determined by Judicial Council of Britain's Privy Council in 1929. The “persons” case involved women not legally being “persons”. After the famous five won the case, women were legally considered “persons” then women began to join important jobs such as members of parliament and the senate. Along with becoming “persons”, women were beginning to get their right to vote in provinces slowly. In 1916, four provinces gave women the right to vote provincially and, finally, in 1940, the last province (Quebec) gave women the right to vote provincially.
In William Faulkner’s short story, “A Rose for Emily”, the butler is directly related to the traditional values in the older generation. Because of his status and race the butler is not allowed to openly express his ideals like Emily is allowed to. The butler’s role is to display the traditions of the older southern generation. The butler serves his role thorough this story by being excessively loyal and protective of Emily, by fulfilling his duty as a servant, and by being racial discriminated against from people in the town.
The main character in the short story “A Rose for Emily” written by William Faulkner is Emily Grierson. She lives in Jefferson Mississippi, in a fictional county called Yoknapatawpha County. The people of Yoknapatawpha saw Miss Emily as "a small, fat woman" who was very cold, distant, and lived in her past. Her home "was a big, squarish frame house that had once been white, decorated with cupolas and spires and scrolled balconies in the heavily lightsome style of the seventies...”. She lived in a little community that was changing and becoming more modern unlike her house. Her house, as Faulkner describes, "...smelled of dust and disuse-a close, dank smell"; "it was furnished in heavy, leather-covered furniture". The look of Emily’s home bothered Emily’s community along with many other things about her. Emily has a "hereditary obligation upon the town". She is from a family of wealth that brought tradition to Yoknapatawpha County. When the town started making modern changes fitting into the next generation Emily became stubborn and showed this by refusing to pay taxes to her county. Emily repeats, "I have no taxes in Jefferson" four times before dismissing the deputation. Thomas Robert Argiro, the author of a critical essay called “Miss Emily After Dark” states that, “[Emily]… struggles with personal grief, a restricted social life, socio-economic decline, and romantic misfortune…” (par.2). Miss Emily is misunderstood by the townspeople and is resistant to the changes around her as well in her life.
Judge Kaufman made a big point when Ethel used her Fifth Amendment right and declined to answer questions on the basis that she might incriminate herself. The judge said, "it is something that the jury may weigh and consider on the questioning of the truthfulness of the witness and on credibility." Not only that, but the judge allegedly would lead prosecuting witnesses to say things against defense. Defense lawyer Alexander Block tried to get a mistrial based on the judge's behavior, but was denied. Judge's bias continued throughout the trial and was expressed most clearly in his sentencing speech. The issue of punishment in this case is presented in a unique framework of history.
Before the jury stands the defendant. There is overwhelming evidence in the favor of the prosecution. The verdict comes back from the jury, not guilty. Why? The defendant is a woman. In our era of equal rights and civil liberties women have made great strides in their advancement and role in society, yet it seems that gender segregates when it comes to crime. There have been countless cases where women and men have been tried for the same crime, yet when it comes to verdict and sentencing, the results don’t necessarily match. If one commits a crime one should be punished accordingly regardless of gender. In our society we seem to have two separate rules for our criminals, one for men and one for women. The key issue is are men and women treated equally by the criminal justice system. Another issue in gender biased sentencing is in its is its severity. Are women sentenced heavier for certain crimes then men.
Hale B, ‘Equality and the Judiciary: Why Should We Want More Women Judges’ (2001) 489-504