1. Toward Social Change
Canada in the 1960’s and 1970’s

2. The “Youthquake”
Transition began with “British invasion” of pop culture (led by the Beatles)
Young people embraced rock music, new clothing styles, sexual promiscuity, and experimentation with drugs
Strove to be different than earlier generations
Counterculture: a subculture with values/lifestyles that are in opposition to those of the dominant, established culture

3. Strong political beliefs
Rejected consumerism
Involvement in women’s, environmental, and Aboriginal rights movements
Protests against Vietnam War
The birth of “the hippie”

4. Music Reflected concerns of the younger generation
Protest songs that condemned racism, war, and devastation to the environment
Protest singers
i.e. Bob Dylan and Joan Baez
Rock groups: The Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Who
Buffy Sainte-Marie (Aboriginal) and Marvin Gaye (African American)
Used music to highlight conditions of their people

5. More politically aware
Politicians began making an effort to appeal to youth
Increased spending on employment and activities
1972: voting age in federal elections lowered from 21 to 18

6. Protest and mockery Political protests marked 1960’s
Woodstock: music festival in 1969
Turned into a protest against the establishment
New political party: the Rhino Party
Grew out of the protest movement
Candidates made far-fetched promises
Made a joke out of politics
Criticisms serious

7. 1967: Royal Commission on the Status of Women
Examined how Canadian women were treated and the problems they faced
Recommendations (including):
Women should have the right to work outside the home
Society in general should take some responsibility for children
Daycare services should be provided
Women should be entitled to paid maternity leave from their jobs
The federal g’ment should do all it can to help overcome discrimination against women in society

8. The Women’s Movement
1950’s: women felt trapped by the roles society assigned them
The Feminine Mystique (1963)
Betty Freidan
Women trapped in gender roles that were reinforced by images in the media
Women should free themselves from traditional roles by acquiring an education and pursuing careers
Transformed lives of many women
Feminists joined together to fight for women’s rights

9. National Action Committee on the Status of Women (NAC) formed in 1971
Pressure group
Lobbied federal and provincial g’ments to act on the Commissions recommendations
Key victory: inclusion of a clause guaranteeing the equality of women in Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1982)

10. Canadian feminists…
Demanded women be promoted to positions of responsibility in g’ment, business, education, and civil service
Argued against stereotyping women and the kinds of work they do
Pressed for changes in the education system
Canadian women becoming engineers, doctors, politicians, company presidents

11. Challenging social values
1960’s: dramatic increase in activism for social change
Organizations formed: Human Rights Watch, Canadian Civil Liberties Association, Amnesty International, National Indian Brotherhood

12. Diefenbaker and the Canadian Bill of Rights
1960
Protect a person’s fundamental human rights
Freedom of life, liberty, security of person, and the enjoyment of property
The right to equality before the law and its protection
Freedom of religion
Freedom of speech
Freedom of assembly and association

13. The Omnibus Bill 1969; PM Pierre Trudeau’s g’ment Bill C-150
Major changes in social legislation
Recognized the right of women to have access to contraception
Recognized the right to abortion (w/ certain limitations)
Legalized homosexuality between consenting adults

14. Trudeau changed Canada’s divorce law (1968)
Dr. Henry Mortentaler: challenged abortion laws
Opened an abortion clinic in 1969, arrested many times, juries refused to convict
Law had become unenforceable
Named a member of the Order of Canada
1976: Bill C-84 passed House of Commons
Ended the death penalty
Did not have widespread public support

15. Women’s Rights Activists protested against Canadian laws
Reforms in divorce and abortion laws welcomed by many
Important steps towards women’s equality
Many unions joined fight for women’s rights

16. Gay Rights
Before Omnibus Bill: gay people could be arrested and sent to prison, denied employment, and persecuted
1960’s gay right activists: began to organize to draw attention to injustices
Gay people began to publicly show pride in their sexual orientation and resist persecution
1973: Vancouver’s first Gay Pride Festival
2003: BC legalized same-sex marriage