1. ADVANCES IN WOMEN’S RIGHTS
Review: What do we already know about advancements in women’s rights?
Answer: They fought for and won the vote during WWI

2. Prohibition Ends
Women’s groups, like the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, achieved their first political victory
In Canada, victory was short-lived: prohibition ended by 1930
Prohibition movement had taught women what they would need to know to become successful in politics.
Other groups like the fundamentalist Christians had supported their efforts.
Prohibition did have some benefits: many of the problems associated with alcohol abuse were minimized (e.g. crime and poverty rates went down)
Provinces began repealing their prohibition legislation as early as 1920 (BC). Only PEI held out (1948).

3. New Roles for Women
Attitudes about proper behaviour for women began to change
Sought greater equality in their domestic relationships with men
Increasingly saw themselves as sexual beings & took charge of their bodies
Combined with the advent of the automobile, dating became more private
Flappers epitomized this modern, liberated view of women
Petting (sexual relations without intercourse) became common
No longer needed a chaperone on dates
The Flapper style became the new mode of popular dress

4. A Revolution in Women’s Fashions
1910
1920
What are the differences between these outfits? What might the differences signify?
1910: high neckline, corseted waist, long skirt, little make-up
1920: looser, no more corset, low neckline, shorter skirt and no sleeves=very revealing in comparison, heavy make-up
Significance: clothes echo the increased freedoms that women are enjoying, attitudes about proper behaviour and dress are changing

5. A Revolution in Women’s Fashions
1910
1920
What are the differences between these bathing suits? What might the differences signify?
1910: Very covered up, didn’t allow women to swim properly
1920: More similar to what men were wearing, allowed more freedom of movement for swimming
Significance: athletic pursuits becoming more acceptable for women, women doing things that only men did before is becoming more acceptable, women are pushing the boundaries a little more

6. New Roles for Women
Flappers defied traditional ideas of proper dress & behaviour:
More revealing & less restrictive clothing
Short hair & make up
Smoked cigarettes & drank alcohol
Stayed out late & went to nightclubs
While Flappers saw themselves as the new, liberated, modern woman, others were scandalized by their wild dancing, drinking and “unladylike” behaviour
They were criticized by:
Women in rural areas—their image conflicted with conservative values
Older women involved in the women’s rights movement—thought their behaviour undermined the cause

7. Education & Work Attended college in record numbers
Tended to take “feminine” classes like home economics
Many entered the workforce during the economic boom
Mostly worked in low paying, “feminine” professions e.g. nursing, teaching, clerical work
Typically only women from middle and upper class families could afford to go
Wasn’t always about the degree; most would drop out after getting married and usually saw it as a way to meet a good, educated husband
A few women did manage to become doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc., but faced great prejudice in the process and were often expected to give up their careers upon marriage

8. Involvement in Politics
More involved in politics, but generally voted with their husbands
1921 election: only 5 women ran for federal office
Only Agnes Macphail won her seat
Only woman in the HOC until 1935
4 western provinces elected 9 women in total
Women thought that getting the vote in 1918 would mean big political changes, but it didn’t bring the changes that many had expected.
Even today, women are still underrepresented in Canadian politics
Agnes Macphail worked for prison reform in the 1930s, started the Elizabeth Fry Society of Canada to help former female prisoners and was appointed to the Senate in 1954 though she died before taking her seat.

9. The Persons Case
Launched in 1929 by the Famous Five: Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung, Irene Parlby, Henrietta Muir Edwards & Louise McKinney
Challenged claim that women weren’t “persons” in the BNA Act
All 5 women from Alberta—another example of the western provinces being the cradle of Canadian feminism
If women were not persons, it meant they could not serve in many important government positions (e.g. Senator) and that they did not have the same rights as men under Canadian law

10. The Persons Case
1916: Emily Murphy became 1st female magistrate in British Empire, but appointment challenged because only “persons” could hold office under BNA Act
1917: Alberta Supreme Court ruled women were persons under Alberta law
Famous Five challenged P.M. King to appoint a female senator
1928: Supreme Court of Canada ruled the women are not “persons” under BNA Act
Supreme Court of Canada specifically ruled that it did not believe that the Fathers of Confederation had intended for the term “qualified persons” to include women when it came to deciding who would serve in public office.

11. The Persons Case
With help from King, took their case to British Privy Council
1929: ruled that women were persons under the law
No member of Famous Five was appointed to Senate
1930: Canada’s 1st female Senator = Cairine Wilson
British Privy Council was the highest court of appeal in Canada at the time
The official ruling: “to those who would ask why the word ‘persons’ should include females, the obvious answer is, why should it not?”
In 1999, the Famous Five were honoured with a statue commemorating their victory in Calgary and Ottawa.
The statue in Ottawa is the only statue on parliament hill that does not honour a prime minister, Father of Confederation or British monarch

12. Limited Changes
Most still felt that a “good” woman was a housewife dedicated to her family
Most women still depended on their husbands for financial support
New labour-saving devices (e.g. washing machines, vacuums) made housework easier, but increased expectations of cleanliness
Lower class women could not afford servants or labour-saving devices as upper-class and middle class women could