Even a brief history discloses the fact that its darkest periods had taken place when individuals failed to acknowledge other human beings as persons; thus, as equals. The denial of personhood to definite members of the society or classes within the human family is traditionally linked to endeavors to deprive them of the basic rights, as well as privileges. The history of women in Canada spans for many decades in which they underwent harrowing experiences because of lack of equality in the society that was dominated by men. The women faced a lot of injustices. Canada has been historically guilty of discrimination; which in hindsight is acknowledged as arbitrary, as well as oppressive. The Canadian women were not taken as persons until October …show more content…
1918 during the end of World War I when the “Five Persons” namely; Irene Parlby, Nellie McClung, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Louise C. McKinney, Emily F. Murphy, and Henrietta Muir Edwards, at last won a judgment in the famous Persons Case. This was defining moment for the women in Canada and the rest of the world. Women's Rights in Canada would not have been far reaching as it is today had five brave women not stood to fight the status quo in the court of law. Five women, in what became known as the Personhood Case, fought this epic battle. The study will examine the history of women injustices in the Canada and the rise of the Personhood case. The proponents of the case will be considered and its benefits (Hughes 61). The rights of women in Canada were a subject of concern during the 1900s, and it sparked several debates, as well as movements, particularly after the WW1.
The majority of the women during this period were not allowed to vote, which implies that they did not have the voting rights, making them participate less in civil issues and decision-making processes. Before, 1929, women were regarded as persons when it came to paying taxes and being punished; however, despite advances ,which had been achieved in women’s status during the late 19th and early 20th centuries (Hughes 63). During this period, the law was vague, and jurists and attorneys could still declare that women were not persons in the society for having the right to take part in professional and public life. The Canadian women were not regarded as persons until October 1929 when the five women- Irene Parlby, Nellie McClung, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Louise C. McKinney, Emily F. Murphy, and Henrietta Muir Edwards- eventually won a judgment in the popular Persons Case. The decision obtained for women in Canada legal credit of their personhood. In 1928, a constitutional reference was established on behalf of the women. The major question that was considered was concerns about Section 24 of the BNA in 1867 include females (Nancy
59). In 1929, five Canadian women, called the Famous Five, won a verdict from the British Privy Council (BPC) where they declared women as persons in the eye of the law. The verdict was one of the most central landmarks in the history of women’s fight for equality (Thompson and Gordon 78). It has been regarded as the event that marked formal sexual emancipation. What the “Famous Five” women had been seeking was a determination that women could be appointed to the Canadian Senate (Monique 2). This had denied the women on the premise that they were not “qualified persons” under the provisions of Section 24 of the British North American (BNA) Act of 1867, the Act of the British Parliament , which gave the people of Canada self-government and it was enshrined on the constitution. What they attained was a ruling, which overturned arguments going back centuries, which were still being used by attorneys and legislators during the 20th century in Britain and Canada to keep women away from public life and professional life (Connors and Law 29). The personhood case was a momentous force that witnessed in 1867 through the British North America that propelled the status of women in Canada. The Act was propelled by the efforts of the women famously known as the “Five” (Monique 2). The Persons Case justified the former cases in Britain and Canada through which women had been searching for since the 1860s for a determination by the courts that women were entitled to take part in public life (Nancy 59). Women had been excluded simply because they were nor regarded as persons by the virtue that they were women, although they otherwise had all the essential qualifications. Therefore, the 1867 Act incorporated personhood case in order to allow women to find the rightful place in Canada where they will be regarded as “persons” and take part in public life. At the center of the matter of these cases was whether women were included in the word “persons” in the charters and statutes concerning right to hold public office, to be admitted to the professions, as well as to vote, or whether they were debarred by virtue of the fact that only men pronouns were utilized in charters and statutes (Hughes 64). The 1867 BNA Act allowed the five women to form a formidable force that brought the needed changes among women in Canada. The Famous five, all from Alberta Province were instrumental towards bringing the changes that had been fought for many decades. The five women had been playing a primary as social reformers and equal rights crusaders and were amongst the first women in the Empire to assume positions in public offices (About News 1). Emily Murphy became the first women among the Five famous to discover that she was not considered a “person” during her initial day in courtroom in 1916 when defendant’s attorney challenged her appointment on premise that she was not a “person”. However, Emily challenged the argument, but lawyers on the same premise consistently challenged her. She was the magistrate of a newly established Women’s Court that operated in Edmonton. In 1927, Emily challenged the Supreme Court of Canada to elaborate the scope of “person” under section 24 of BNA Act. Emily continued to fight despite the court rejection of the concern and in 1929 through her efforts; Lord Leaky made a declaration to include women in the word “person” (Nancy 59). Henrietta was an active crusader regarding prison reforms, organized the forerunner to the YWCA in Montreal in 1875 to offer vocational training for impoverished women. She published and financed the first magazine in Canada working for women. In addition, as a law student, she assisted to establish the National Council of women in 1890 (Monique 2). She a social reformer, novelist, as well as reporter, who had led the struggle for the charter for females in, she later on became an lively associate of the Alberta Legislative Assembly, as well as entrust to the League of Nations in 1938 (Hughes 63). Louise was the first to serve as the member of the Legislative Assembly in the Empire when she was elected in Alberta during 1917, the initial Canadian election where a woman could vote or even run an office. She fought for, became victorious in Dower Act in Alberta, and was among the four women to sign the document that established the United Church of Canada. Born in London, England, Irene Parlby came to Alberta in 1896 and settled in the Lacombe Region. Being among the five women became the first woman cabinet minister in Alberta. She championed for rural women via the United Farm Women in Alberta, and she as well as represented Canada at the League of Nations in 1930 (Nancy 59). The October 18, 1929 was a major turning point since a major ruling was delivered. The declaration by Lord Chancellor emerged to be a constitutional revolution, especially for the women, who had been denied a place in public offices and professional lives. Women for the first time were declared as persons fully. During this time, women were permitted to contribute in decision-making process, particularly when it comes to voting. Women pursued the education in universities, where they had been denied the place because they were not considered as persons. The changes allowed women to get job opportunities as men in the society, bringing the element of equality (Hughes 68). Furthermore, with the changes in the constitution, women vied for different political seats in Canada. For example, Cairine Wilson was appointed in Canada as the first woman Senator in 1930. This has seen over fifty-nine women Senators in the past 70 years since then, and currently women constitute about 30% of the Senate members. Nonetheless, Alberta did not get a woman Senator until 1979 when the Prime Minister appointed Martha Bielish from Warspite (Monique 2). The Personhood case had symbolic significance beyond its purely legal importance in the history of Canada. It opened avenues that guaranteed equal opportunities for both men and women in the society (Nancy 59).
Before World War I, equality for woman and men were very unfair. Woman weren’t even legally “persons”; they weren’t allowed to join parliament or the senate because they weren’t legally “persons”, therefore these jobs were occupied by men only. During World War I and World War II, many men had left for war, thus meaning there were many job openings that needed to be occupied as soon as possible, women then began to take on stereotypical male jobs which men thought women couldn’t do or couldn’t do as well. Women showed their capabilities and realized they shouldn’t be considered less than men. In retaliation of not being considered “persons”, women decided to take action. 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. Later, in World War II, there was another change in
Through the 20th century, the communist movement advocated greatly for women's’ rights. Despite this, women still struggled for equality.
...nts in mind that show that Canada was not always the Human Rights Role Model that it has become during the twenty-first century. These events could be anything such as the disgraceful, and unprovoked, treatment of the Canadian-Japanese during the Second World War or the attempts to assimilate the Native Americans of Canada into Caucasian culture with the White Paper document. Even during the beginning of the twentieth century prejudices were held against immigrants, many were discriminated against and hated. With these horrendous events in mind it is amazing that a country, with such a troubled past, can possibly make up and become the Role Model for Human Rights that Canada is perceived as. These historically significant events have affected the way that Canada has developed and as such has helped to mould the country of Canada into what society knows it as.
Morris, M. (2000). Some facts and dates in Canadian women’s history of the 20th century. Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women, 20(1). Retrieved from http://criaw-icref.ca/millenium.
Misogyny and sexual violence in Canada has increased over the years. Even though misogyny in Canada have a completely different concept than it did back in the older generations. Usually back in the day, women were not respected in the ways they are now. They were never saw as equal to men, which is also called gender discrimination. Currently, women hatred and misogyny are usually expressed through rape or through violence. Even though this was a part of the past also, the numbers of rape and violence to women has largely increased in Canada. This is similar to the United States as well, even though statistics on the Nation Master website says that Canada has it worse. Lesbians and transgenders in Canada experience the most misogyny from anyone. There are usually a huge amount of hatred towards them from religious and nonreligious people.
The Person’s Case is a great example of a political change that took place in Canada during the time frame of 1914 and 1938. After The Famous Five won their case, some change began. This event slowly changed the outlook of women across Canada. It proved that women were also persons, and capable of being in politics. In the 1920’s, women were still mainly seen as homemakers. For example,”In 1929, shortly after the person’s case, women made up 20% of the workforce. But they only worked in traditional female jobs that paid less than men.” (1) But, after the war, “They were expected to give up their jobs, and take care of their husbands and families.” (2) Even though the Person’s Case was done due to the unequal treatment of women in politics and the labour force, it also affected their respect in other fields. After World War One, “women were considered to...
Due to the a sentence of working men's, women were suggested to do men’s work, such as making clothes for oversea men, filling bullets and shell bombs with materials, and many more occupations and works that were once the ‘privilege’ only to men. After WWI ended, women were forced to leave their occupation and return back to their life as typical ‘house maids’. This did not only cause the women’s anger and rebellion due to the fact that their jobs were taken away from them, but it also planted seeds deeply within women’s hearts of the consciousness of gender inequality. Before women in Canada had ever taken on jobs before, their lives were all about pleasing their men and baring, caring for their children. Women did not have a life of their own before the famous The Person’s case, led by Emily Murphy, Irene Marryat Parlby, Nellie Mooney McClung, Louise Crummy McKinney and Henrietta Muir Edward; however , that is to say after the women in the prairies had granted votes for them. To resume, the newly funded experience for the women due to their new jobs had sparked the courage and anger in them. This can also explain the year of women first received their rights to vote in 1916, barely two years after the outbreak of WWI. While women’s men were away fighting during WWI, votes were given to women during conscription so that the wives could vote in place of their husband.
Over several decades, Canadian women have greatly exceeded and made several advancement in earning women’s equality. Agnes MacPhail was a strong determined woman. At a young age, Macphail disliked housework and preferred helping her father with the farm livestock. She had longed for a life outside the farm work and hoped to attend school. However, Agnes’ family was in dire need for help to support the farm. She took action and never lost hope as she pleaded for two years for her parent's approval to go to school. With persistence and hope she gained their permission to start an education. Several women have shown phenomenal strength and conquered challenges to achieve equality. Women lived in a male-dominated society; however after 1914, Canadian
Systemic discrimination has been a part of Canada’s past. Women, racial and ethnic minorities as well as First Nations people have all faced discrimination in Canada. Policies such as, Charter of Rights and Freedoms, provincial and federal Human Rights Codes, as well has various employment equity programs have been placed in Canada’s constitution to fight and address discrimination issues. Despite these key documents placed for universal rights and freedoms Aboriginal and other minority populations in Canada continue to be discriminated against. Many believe there is no discrimination in Canada, and suggest any lack of success of these groups is a result of personal decisions and not systemic discrimination. While others feel that the legislation and equality policies have yet resulted in an equal society for all minorities. Racism is immersed in Canadian society; this is clearly shown by stories of racial profiling in law enforcement.
“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.
One of the best ways to judge the different political arguments in Canada from the early 20th century, is by reviewing the different political cartoons that were released. These were an effective way of educating the masses because it did not require an advanced education or vocabulary to understand where each side was debating. One of the more popular conflicts that were ongoing in the first years of the 1900’s was the fight for women’s equality. This included the right to vote and the right to participate in government. By comparing political cartoons from before, during, and after the First World War the changing context of Canadian society also affected the public opinion and the power balance towards the evolution of Women’s equality.
Before the 1700 and 1800s women in some of areas had the right to vote. They also had the right to inherit properties. Because back then the world did mostly farming, men and women shared the work. Also the men shared in child care.
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
Women had proven their significance in Canadian history through their struggles in gaining rights that provided equality. In order to improve the rights of women, the following were established: Royal Commission on the Status of Women, Pay Equity, and Employment Equity Act. The Royal Commission on the Status of Women (RCSW) was called by Prime Minister Lester Bowles Pearson on February 3rd, 1967, to investigate and report on the condition of women which was initiated immediately after an organization, which was led by a coalition of thirty-two women, who protested for equal rights. Together, the thirty two women’s groups gathered to form an alliance against the government. They threatened to “lead a women’s march on Parliament Hill” if nothing were to be done for this matter. Therefore, Prime Minister Pearson did not have any other option except to establish the RCSW in response to this campaign. The C...
The French Revolution was a period of time in which France underwent many changes, many which could be considered revolutionary. France’s whole system and way of being was completely changed. New ideas were proposed everyday. An idea is revolutionary when it is a new idea, when it is something that has never been thought of before. The Declaration of the Rights of Women written by Olympe de Gouges on September 1791, was one of the ideas proposed to the National Assembly (Hunt, Web 1). The document proposed that since the French Revolution was all about finding equality for all people, women should be equal to men and therefore, should have the same rights as men did. Women at the time live in terrible conditions. They had little access to education, and therefore could not enter professional occupations that required advanced education, were legally deprived of the right to vote, and were not considered citizens (Class Discussion Notes). If equal rights were not given to women, the French Revolution had not reached its full potential, according to Gouges. She expressed this idea in her document, saying, “This revolution will only take effect when all women become fully aware of their deplorable condition, and of the rights they have lost in society” (Gouges, Web). Anyone that questioned the Revolution was immediately put to death (Class Discussion Notes). If Gouges’ document and ideas were important enough to catch the attention of the National Assembly and for her to be put to death, her ideas could be considered important and revolutionary (Britannica, Web 1) But, the document was not revolutionary. The Declaration of the Rights of Women was not a revolutionary document because its ideas were taken from other people and were no...