A Timeline of Women’s Rights Canada in the 20 th Century

Previous to the 20 th century, women were viewed as dependants and given about the same status as children Both men and women saw the role for females as being child bearers and housekeepers Gradually throughout the 19oos, women have fought to gain equality with men in terms of their rights and freedoms. However, according to the UN, Canada no longer leads the pack on gender equality.

World Rankings Out of 128 countries, Canada currently ranks 18 th in the world for gender equality Leading the world is Sweden, than Norway, Finland and Iceland. New Zealand, the Philippines, Germany, Denmark, Ireland, and Spain rounded out the top 10. The United States finished in 31st spot, down eight places from last year.

1914: The War and Prohibition 1914 – women enter the workforce for the first time, for duration of the war. Her salary was still the legal property of her husband, however. Women’s Temperance movement fight to ban alcohol. This prohibition lasted until 1921.

1916 – women gain the right to vote in provincial elections in Manitoba, Alberta, and Saskatchewan ▫Suffragists fought hard for the right to vote hoping this would give them more say in social problems of the day like child labour, pollution, poverty, and alcohol abuse* ▫Nellie McClung was the most prominent and vocal of these women  At this time women were not considered persons under the law unless they committed a crime Whoa, Nellie!

1917 Women in BC and Ontario granted provincial vote Wartime Elections Act: women related to soldiers given the right to vote federally on the issue of conscription.

1918 Women allowed federal vote Nova Scotian women get provincial vote WWI ends, women back to the home and out of the workplace

1920s Flappers era – women start cutting their hair short and wearing clothing to de-emphasize their curves all in an effort to show the movement towards equality Bathing suits should still be six inches above the knee.

1921 – Agnes Macphail This was the only woman in Canada that won a seat in the House of Commons. She would remain the only one until 1935

1922 Married Women’s Property Act (Alberta) allows women to keep her property when she gets married – she no longer has to give all her possessions to her husband.

1929 – Persons Case Emily Murphy was appointed as a judge but was challenged on the grounds that she was not legally a “person” The Famous Five (Murphy and four others) challenged PM King to appoint a woman to the Senate to clarify definition of person Supreme Court of Canada deemed them not persons The Five headed to Britain to challenge this, and the Privy Council there supported the women and overruled the Canadian ruling. Women were officially persons under the constitution in October 1929.

Women once again enter the workforce in great numbers for WWII This time, however, they weren’t so eager to head back to the home when the war was over Men doing the same job received a far higher wage. Women also joined the ranks in the military

1961 Therese Casgrain and others form Voice of Women to lobby gov’t for peace and nuclear disarmament. These women lead the new movement of “political demonstrations”

1960s and 1970s “Youthquake” Feminism at its peak! Movement for women in the workplace, daycare services, maternity leave, birth control, abortions, and equal pay for equal work Women try to change the stereotypes: “ban the bra” Promote changes in education to encourage girls to excel in math and science. By the 1980s, women were becoming doctors, politicians, Co presidents etc (enter the “powersuit” and shoulder pads in fashion, shows like “Who’s the Boss” and “Mary Tyler Moore” become popular tv)

present Continued effort to promote equal pay for equal work (Canadian Human Rights Act 1986) Hiring preferences: by 1999 many places encouraged to hire women and minorities rather than white men to show their “equality” Very controversial. Question: a man and a woman of the exact same qualifications apply for a job. Why will the man be hired?