Social, Political & Economic Issues & Changes Role of Women in Canada Social, Political & Economic Issues & Changes

Suffrage/Suffragettes At the turn of the century women around the world were fighting for the right to vote (get the suffrage).

Role of Canadian Women in WW1 New roles for women: Volunteered to send goods overseas Worked with the Red Cross In industry, fishing & on farms On the Western Front: Almost 2,500 women joined the medical & field ambulance corps

Vote for Women in Canada Manitoba 1916 Women got the vote for the first time in Manitoba. Canada 1918 Universal vote for women. 1917 – Wartime Elections Act

1st Female MP Agnes MacPhail 1921 Progressive MP

The Person’s Case, 1929 Emily Murphy was appointed a magistrate (judge) in Alberta. 2. Her appointment was challenged. The claim was that Murphy could not take the job. Only “persons” could hold that job and under the BNA, women were not persons. 3. The Supreme Court of Alberta ruled that Murphy could hold that position.

4. Emily Murphy & 4 other women (Famous Five) challenged PM King to appoint a woman senator & clarify the definition of “persons”. 5. April, 1928 the Supreme Court of Canada decided that “women” were not persons under the Constitution. 6. The “Famous Five” appealed to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in Britain.

7. On October 18, 1929, the Judicial Committee said, “ The exclusion of women from all public offices is a relic of days more barbaric than ours…. To those who ask why the word (“person”) should include females the obvious answer is why should it not?

Role of Canadian Women World War Two Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service (WRENS) was created in 1942 These women worked as wireless operators, coders, drivers and operational plotters. “Rosie the Riveter” (welders, drillers, punch press operators & machine operators) Factory workers

The Women’s Movement 1960s feminism emerged as a significant force 1967 the government set up the Royal Commission on the Status of Women to examine women’s place in Canadian society

Commission’s conclusions: Women should have the right to choose to work outside the home. Society in general, as well as parents, should take responsibility for children; therefore, day care services should be provided.

3. Women should be entitled to paid maternity leave from their jobs. 4. The federal government should do all it can to help overcome discrimination against women in society.

NAC National Action Committee on the Status of Women Pressure group to lobby the federal & provincial governments to act on the commission’s findings Equality Rights in Charter – women’s rights seen as a victory Affirmative Action programs

How did science revolutionize women’s lives? Before – it was illegal to promote or give out info about birth control - abortions were illegal After - 1961 birth control pill introduced 1982 1st challenge to the abortion law 1988 Supreme Court decision, Sec. 7 Charter, “security of person” (Abortion becomes a Health matter & not a criminal issue in Canada.)

Pay Equity Equal pay for work of equal value. The gender wage gap is a reality in Canada. 2005 – for every dollar earned by men, women just earned 70.5 cents

Glass Ceiling http://www.businesscartoons.co.uk/shop/images/uploads/2422bwc.gif

It is a challenge for women to avoid the Only 28% of Canadian Women are in senior management positions It is a challenge for women to avoid the ‘Pink Ghetto’

Women & Politics 2008 Election 22% Female MPs 1957 – Ellen Flairclough - 1st Female Cabinet Minister

Emily Carr & Canadian Identity