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Chapter 17 Women Demand Change A Mock Parliament

It is 27 . Nellie McClung and sev- men are given the vote,” she says, “they will eral hundred women meet with the premier of vote too much. Politics unsettles men. . They have a petition demanding Unsettled men mean unsettled bills—broken the Manitoba government grant women the furniture, broken vows, and divorce. . . . Men right to vote. Nellie confronts the premier: cannot be trusted with the ballot. Men’s place “We are not here to ask for a gift or a favour, is on the farm.” but for a right—not for mercy, but for justice!” The play is a roaring success. The audi- Premier Roblin receives the women res- ence howls with laughter and the premier and pectfully but dismisses their arguments: “Now his government are embarrassed. Requests to you forget all this nonsense about women vot- repeat the performance come from all over ing. Nice women don’t want to vote!” Manitoba. Money earned is used to finance the The next night, at the Walker Theatre in women’s campaign to win the right to vote. , women stage a mock parliament. All mem- Reflecting bers are women. Nellie 1. Why do you think women at the turn of the 20th McClung is premier. Roles century did not have the right to vote? are reversed and men are 2. Why was a stage play an effective way for women to asking for the right to vote. make their point? Nellie cleverly pokes fun at 3. Imagine you are in the audience.What might your the idea that women’s place reactions be if you are a man? A woman? What arguments might you make for why women should or is in the home and that they should not be given the vote? are too emotional to vote. “If

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Women in Society e) Wives had to obey their husbands and could In society at the turn of the 20th century, men legally be beaten. and women were not treated equally. The early f) In the West, wives or single women could 20th century was very much a man’s world. not claim homesteads. Only if she was the Consider these facts about the position of head of a household could a woman take women in Canada in the late 1800s: up a homestead. g) Married women had the right to financial a) No woman had the right to vote. The support from their husbands. However, Election Act of the Dominion of Canada wives of alcoholic men found it very diffi- stated “no woman, idiot, lunatic, or criminal cult in practice to collect any support shall vote.” money. b) No woman could be elected to federal or h) Girls could attend elementary and sec- provincial government. ondary schools. Very few women in Canada c) A man had a great deal of control over his received post-secondary education. The wife and children. At that time, the father University of Toronto did not admit women had complete control over the children. He until the 1880s. Most professions were still could collect their income. Without consult- closed to women. People would not accept ing his wife, he could put their children up the idea that women could perform the jobs for adoption. of doctors, lawyers, or church ministers as d) It was commonly accepted that a woman’s well as men. chief function was to keep house for her husband and to bear children. One out of By 1900, however, ideas about women were every five women in Canada died in child- slowly beginning to change. birth at this time.

Table Manners for Young Ladies • Take your seat quietly at the table. • Sit firmly in your chair without lolling back, drumming, or any other uncouth action. • Unfold your napkin and lay it on your lap. • Eat soup directly with a spoon. • Be careful to make no noise in chewing or swallowing your food. Women were expected to behave very properly in society.This list of • Break your bread, do not cut it or bite it. table manners is from one woman’s • Your cup was made to drink from, and your diary. Lists like this one were often saucer for to hold your cup. put up in rooming houses for coun- try girls who had come to cities • Wipe your nose if necessary but never blow it looking for work. at the table. 264-285 120820 11/1/04 3:47 PM Page 266

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Civics & Society Women’s Changing Roles

More women were working outside the home in factories, mills, stores, and offices. Most women in these jobs, how- ever, were unmarried.They were also paid far less than men and had few opportunities for promotions. Once mar- ried, husbands were expected to support their wives. Nevertheless, many married women took in extra sewing or laundry to help pay the bills.

A large number of women worked as household servants in middle and upper class homes. These jobs paid the lowest wages Wealthy women had more leisure time than of all, but domestic servants were the poor. Domestic servants as well as new always in demand. Many immi- household gadgets such as carpet sweepers, grant women answered advertise- washing machines, and store-bought food ments to work as servants in and clothing relieved women of some of the Canada.These two women are household chores.Wealthy women could from Finland. By 1911, 35% of pursue some of their own interests in music, household servants were recent art, or charitable work. immigrants. 264-285 120820 11/1/04 3:47 PM Page 267

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Educated women went into the teaching and nursing professions. Nurses were almost all women. Women also soon took over the majority of teaching jobs. By 1920, 83% of elementary school teachers and 50% of secondary school teachers were women.

1. Work in groups. Imagine you In the late 1800s, are the women in each photo. women traditionally Discuss and record the wore long skirts and advantages and disadvantages dresses tightly tucked of each of your new roles. in at the waist.Wear- 2. Gather photos to create your ing pants was unheard of. Fancy dresses were especially elaborate own picture story of modern and uncomfortable by today’s standards. women’s roles. How do these But by 1918, the Eaton’s catalogue was roles of women today com- advertising overalls for women—a sign of pare with women’s roles at changing fashions. the turn of the 20th century? 264-285 120820 11/1/04 3:47 PM Page 268

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Tech New Technology Revolutionizes Link Women’s Work

The Typewriter The Telephone ike the computer today, the The telephone also L typewriter at the turn of the created new jobs for 20th century changed the busi- women. Tele- ness world. It also had major phone operators were impacts on communications and almost all women. But education. By allowing for the the work and the new technology were mechanization of office jobs, the type- not without some negative effects. writer paved the way for women to Some operators looked after 80 to 100 enter the office. By 1900, any concerns switchboard lines and more than 6000 that women could not operate office possible connections. Long-distance equipment had disappeared. In fact, operators sometimes got severe elec- office managers had come to prefer tric shocks. The job caused mental and women to men for certain tasks. A nervous exhaustion after long hours. In textbook on office management pub- 1907, 400 female operators in Toronto lished in 1915 noted: went on strike when the Bell Telephone Company wanted to A woman is to be preferred for the increase their hours without a pay secretarial position for she is not raise. The workers won some more pay averse to doing minor tasks, work for longer hours, but they were not involving handling of petty details, part of a union that could represent which would irk and irritate ambi- their concerns. tious young men, who usually feel that the work they are doing is of no importance if it can be per- 1. Create a diagram to show how the formed by some person with a typewriter could change office work, lower salary. communications, and education. 2. How did these advances in technol- The first front-stroke typewriter was ogy also have negative effects on invented in 1890. The first electric type- women’s roles? Discuss your reac- writer was used in an office in 1920. tions to the quotation from the Adapted from Jan Coomber and Rosemary textbook on office management. Evans, Women Changing Canada, Copyright Oxford University Press 1997. p. 11. Reprinted by permission. 264-285 120820 11/1/04 3:47 PM Page 269

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New Organizations In the late 1800s, women were begin- ning to create organizations for social and political change.

Women’s Christian Temperance Union In 1874, the Canadian branch of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) was formed. Its aim was to combat the problems created by alcohol. The women members were very concerned about the num- ber of wives and children who were being beaten, abused, or neglected. Through programs in schools, they hoped to teach women their rights. The club worked make the younger generation aware of the dan- hard to win the right to vote for women. It gers of drinking. The WCTU also worked hard struggled for laws to improve the wages and to limit the number of stores and bars licensed working conditions for women in factories and to sell liquor. Their ultimate goal was to stop sweatshops. It also helped establish a medical the sale of alcohol altogether. college for women in Ontario. The club finally In their crusade against liquor, women of persuaded the University of Toronto to admit the WCTU learned an important lesson. They women in 1886. Emily’s daughter, Augusta, realized that until they had the right to vote, no became the first woman to study medicine and government was going to listen to them. If they graduate as a doctor in Canada. had the right to vote, women could defeat politicians and governments who ignored their Adelaide Hoodless and the demands. It was not surprising that many lead- Women’s Institute ers of the WCTU were also active in the move- In 1889, Adelaide Hoodless had a great tragedy ment to gain the vote. in her life. Her 18-month-old son died from drinking contaminated milk. In those days, Emily Stowe and the Women’s refrigeration was inadequate. Contaminated Literary Club food was common. But Adelaide Hoodless Emily Stowe was a pioneer in the struggle for blamed herself. She felt her ignorance had women’s equality. In 1852 she became the first caused the death of her child. woman school principal. She wanted to Adelaide Hoodless set out to persuade the become a doctor, but the University of Toronto public schools to teach domestic science. She refused to admit her because she was a wanted sewing, sanitation, nutrition, and woman. She was forced to go to the United housekeeping skills to be studied in school. States to study. When she came back to Canada At first, Ontario education officials rejected to practise medicine, she faced fines, threats, the idea. However, with the support of the and harrassment from others in the medical Young Women’s Christian Association profession. (YWCA), Adelaide Hoodless and her support- In 1876, Dr. Emily Stowe formed the ers persisted. Gradually, school boards across Toronto Women’s Literary Club. This name the province introduced classes in home was deceiving. The purpose of the club was to economics. 264-285 120820 11/1/04 3:47 PM Page 270

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The Movement for At the beginning of the 20th century, women in many countries were also organizing to obtain the vote. Members of this movement were called suffrag- ettes in England. In Canada, they were called suffragists. Their names came from the word “suffrage.” Suffrage means the right to vote. Regardless of what they were called, their purpose was the same. It was to win the same rights and opportunities that men enjoyed. Getting the vote was just the first step. In Britain, the fought a violent campaign to win their rights. They chained themselves to the gates of Buckingham Palace. They smashed the windows of the prime minister’s resi- dence. They scuffled with the police. Time and time again, women went to jail to draw attention to their cause. At the famous horse race, the Derby, one leaped in front of a race Adelaide Hoodless and her children. horse owned by King George V. She died in front of the King and thousands The most famous accomplishment of of shocked spectators. Another suffragette said Adelaide Hoodless was founding the world’s to the King, “For God’s sake, stop torturing first Women’s Institute in 1897. This was women.” The King replied, “I really don’t know a group of farm women who organized what the world is coming to!” What the world themselves to study nutrition, child care, was coming to was a new recognition of household management, and sanitation. women’s rights. Eventually, the idea of In Canada, the suffrag- Women’s Institutes spread 001110010011110100011101000 ists’ movement was more throughout Canada and 100110101000111010011101011 peaceful. Canadian women 001010110101001110001101010 Britain. Adelaide 010110111100101100001011010Netsurfer used arguments, petitions, 001101101010101001101011010 Hoodless was not really o100101010010100100101010010 and organized demonstra- trying to change the 000010101100101001001010101 tions to win what they 010111010100101111011100001Find out more about nature of women’s work. wanted. 100101001011010100101010101the contributions ,of What she was trying to do 101000011100100111101000111 010001001101010001110100111women from Canada s was to prepare girls and 010110010101101010011100011past at 010100101101111001011000010www.niagara.com/ women better for the 110100011011010101010011110 roles of motherhood and 100011101000100110101000111~merrwill/ and 010100101101111001011000010www.nlc-bnc.ca/ homemaking. 110100011011010101010011110digiproj/women/ 100011101000100110101000111 100011101000100110101000111ewomen.htm. 264-285 120820 11/1/04 3:47 PM Page 271

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Victory! In 1915, the government of Premier Roblin of Manitoba was defeated. The new premier was the Liberal, T.C. Norris. He had promised that Manitoba women would be given the right to vote. On 27 January 1916, the bill was passed. It was two years to the day after Nellie McClung and her supporters had petitioned Premier Roblin. When the bill passed, women sitting in the galleries of the legislature stood up and sang “O Canada.” The women of Manitoba were the first in Canada to gain the right to vote. About two The day women won the vote in , months later, similar bills were passed in suffragists Nellie McClung, Alice Jamieson, and Saskatchewan and Alberta. British Columbia decided they must celebrate. and Ontario followed suit the next year. “Being women,” said Mrs. Jamieson,“we couldn’t Eventually all provinces granted women the very well express our joy and satisfaction by vote. Québec was the last. Women in that going out and getting a bottle, so we walked province did not gain the vote until 1940. The down Jasper Avenue with our arms interlocked. breakthrough for women’s federal suffrage Mrs. Murphy suggested that the most reckless came during World War I—as you will see in thing we could do would be to have our pic- the next unit. tures taken.” This picture has become one of A fighter for women’s rights, Agnes Canada’s historical treasures. Macphail, was the first woman to be elected to the House of Commons in 1921. She was re- elected four times. In the same year, Nellie In the federal election of 1997, 62 of the McClung was elected to the Alberta legislature. 301 Members of Parliament were women.

Elsie Inman Remembers

Not everyone was happy with the decision to give women the right to vote. Some men refused to allow their wives to vote. According to Senator Elsie Inman: Most of the women were afraid of their husbands.The majority of husbands refused to let them vote.Well, I remember one woman was scared to vote because her husband might see her at the poll. She was anxious to vote, and I said,“Would he know you if you were dressed up in other clothes?” Well, she didn’t think he would, so I went home and she was about my size.We wore veils in those days, so I took my clothes and coat and put the veil on her and took her to vote. I went to the door to get another woman to vote and her husband met me and said,“Get out of this trying to lead my wife astray.You should be ashamed of yourself . . .” 264-285 120820 11/1/04 3:47 PM Page 272

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Profile Nellie McClung

ellie McClung was one of of humour. One of her most NCanada’s great social famous lines is: “Never reformers. She was a writer retract, never explain, never and a champion of human apologize—get the thing done rights. Born in Ontario in 1873, and let them howl.” Nellie moved west with her In 1914 she helped to defeat family to Manitoba when the Manitoba provincial gov- she was seven. She ernment which had opposed trained to be a teacher giving women the right to vote. and started teaching In 1916 women won the vote in when she was 16. Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and She soon made her Alberta. In 1921 Nellie was mark when she elected to the Alberta legisla- refused to ban girls ture. In 1929 she and four other in her class from women won the famous lunchtime football Persons Case. The British Privy games. During her Council declared that women lifetime she wrote were qualified as “persons” to many books and sit in the . magazine articles. Nellie died in Victoria, BC, in She became known 1951. far beyond the borders of Manitoba. About the time of her 1. Suppose you had to give a marriage, Nellie McClung short speech about Nellie joined the Women’s Christian McClung on International Temperance Union. This was Women’s Day next March 8. her start in politics. Nellie What would you say that began to fight for the right of you most admire about her? women to vote and own How would you explain her property. She had great ability contribution to Canadian as a speaker and was famous society? Record your speech for her quick wit and sense on audiotape or on video. 264-285 120820 11/1/04 3:47 PM Page 273

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2. The quotations below come from a The world has never been partial to book by Nellie McClung called In Times the thinking woman . . . Long years Like These. It was published in 1915. In ago, when women asked for an educa- groups, discuss the following questions. tion, the world cried out that it Choose a spokesperson to present would never do. If women learned to your ideas to the class. read there seemed to be a possibility a) What do these quotations tell you that some day some good man might about the position of women and come home and find his wife reading the aims of the suffragists? and the dinner not ready—and noth- b) Could any of these quotations still ing could be imagined more horrible apply to the position of women than that! today? c) How far do you think women have Children do not need their mother’s come in meeting these goals? care always, and the mother who has given up every hope and ambition in The time will come, we hope, the care of her children will find her- when women will be economi- self left all alone when her children cally free, and mentally and spiri- no longer need her—a woman with- tually independent enough to out a job . . . the belief that a woman refuse to have their food paid for must cherish no hope or ambition of by men; when women will receive her own is both cruel and unjust. equal pay for equal work and have all avenues of activity open to them; and will be free to choose their own mates, without shame, or indelicacy; when men will not be afraid of marrying because of the financial burden, but free men and free women will marry for love and together work for the sustenance of their families. It is not too ideal a thought. It is coming and the new movement among women who are crying out for a larger humanity, is going to bring it about. 264-285 120820 11/1/04 3:47 PM Page 274

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Culture Link Women in the Arts

hough many professions then opened a boarding house Twere closed to women, in Victoria. Around 1908, she some women had groundbreak- began visiting and painting the ing careers in the arts. They villages of Aboriginal peoples in made a significant contribution British Columbia. In 1928, she to the development of Canadian went to Ontario and met the culture in the 20th century. artists of the Group of Seven. From then on, she gained Emily Carr increasing recognition for her Emily Carr was an artist and a artistic achievements. At age 70 writer. She was born on a when her health was failing, she stormy night in Victoria, British turned to writing. In 1941 her Columbia in 1871. Growing up book of short stories, Klee in British Columbia, she devel- Wyck, won the Governor oped a passion for nature and General’s award for fiction. art. Shortly after her parents died when Emily was in her teens, she went to San Francisco to study art. She also studied in England and France. When she returned to Canada she taught art to children in Vancouver and

Memalilaqua, Knight Inlet by Emily Carr, 1912.Aboriginal peoples, their artifacts and villages were favourite subjects of Emily Carr’s art. 264-285 120820 11/1/04 3:48 PM Page 275

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Pauline Johnson Lucy Maud Montgomery (Tekahionwake) Lucy Maud Montgomery was born at Clifton, was the daughter Prince Edward Island, in 1874. Her mother of a Mohawk chief died before Maud was two years old. Since and an English- her father could not take care of her, she woman. Born on went to live with her grandparents in the Six Nations Cavendish, PEI. Her grandparents were very Reserve at Brant- strict. When Maud was seven, her father left ford, Ontario, in to live in Saskatchewan and she did not see 1861, she became one of Canada’s him for long periods of time. leading poets in In 1893 Lucy Maud attended Prince of the early years of Wales College in Charlottetown and received the 20th century. her teaching certificate. When her grand- father died in 1898, Lucy Maud went to look after her grandmother. She had Corn Husker written and published many poems and Hard by the Indian lodges, where the bush short stories. Now she also began to Breaks in a clearing, through ill-fashioned fields. write books and finished Anne of She comes to labour, when the first still hush Green Gables in 1906. But she could Of autumn follows large and recent yields. not find a publisher until 1908. When it was finally published, the book was a Age in her fingers, hunger on her face, Her shoulders stooped with weight of work and years, great success. In 1911, Maud moved to But rich in tawny colouring of her race, Leaksdale, Ontario with her husband She comes a-field to strip the purple ears. and continued to write. In 1926, she and her family moved to Norval, And all her thoughts are with the days gone by. Ontario, near Toronto. In her lifetime, Ere might’s injustice banished from their lands Lucy Maud Montgomery wrote over 500 Her people, that today unheeded lie, Like the dead husks that rustle through her hands. short stories and 20 novels. Her stories are still alive today in plays and televi- —Pauline Johnson sion programs which have gained inter- national recognition.

1. Imagine you are asked to create a Home Page on the Internet for one of these woman artists.Your Page should provide visitors with information on the artist’s life, work, and importance to us today. Plan and sketch out your Home Page. 2. How does Pauline Johnson’s poem “Corn Husker” reflect the position of Aboriginal women at the turn of the 20th century? Write a short interpretation of the poem in your journal. 264-285 120820 11/1/04 3:48 PM Page 276

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The Persons Case Women in Canada had won the right to vote, but they still did not enjoy all the privileges that men had. In 1916, an event took place that pointed out this lack of equality. Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney, , and decided to petition the prime minister to appoint a woman to the Senate. The British North America Act stated that qualified “per- sons” could be appointed to the Senate. Was a woman a “person” in the eyes of the law? The issue was referred to the courts. The Persons Case dragged on in the courts for a period of time. In April 1928, the decided that women were not “per- Emily Murphy was the first woman judge sons” and so could not be appointed to the appointed in Edmonton to hear cases involv- Senate in Canada. ing women. A lawyer in her courtroom chal- Judge Murphy and her supporters, nick- lenged her right to judge any case because named , were discouraged but she was a woman. He said that no woman not defeated. They decided that they would was a “person” in the eyes of the law. The appeal their case to the Privy Council in Britain. matter was referred to the Supreme Court The Privy Council was the highest court of of Alberta. It ruled that a woman had every appeal in the British empire. After months of right to be a judge, but the issue of whether or not women were “persons” was not further consideration, the judges of the Privy resolved until 1928. Council declared that the word “persons” included females. Women were indeed qualified In 1999, there were 102 Senators in Canada. to sit in the Senate of Canada. The Famous Five Thirty-two were women. had won their fight.

Skill Building: Conducting an Interview

An interview is an excellent way to collect first- Key Steps hand information. Many people have fascinating 1. Know what information you are after. Have stories to tell about their experiences and a definite reason for the interview. interests.When the interviewer is well pre- pared and asks well thought-out questions, the 2. Prepare well in advance by researching your results can be rewarding. subject. Sometimes television journalists conduct on-the-spot interviews.They approach people 3. Work out your questions beforehand.The on the street and ask questions about topics in right question is the only way to get the infor- the news. In these opinion interviews, jour- mation you need.Try to include questions that nalists try to find out what ordinary people ask who, what, where, when, how, and why. think about an issue.The following steps will Avoid questions that require only a yes or no help you conduct a good interview. answer. 264-285 120820 11/1/04 3:48 PM Page 277

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4. Listen carefully to what is said. Don’t rush 6. Make your notes as soon as possible after the interview. If the person says something the interview. Listen to the tape and transfer the interesting, give her or him more time to talk answers to the interview sheet. about it. Ask a question that digs deeper and encourages more information.The best inter- Try It! views happen when people really have a chance Interview your mother, grandmother, aunt, or to share their opinions. some other adult female relative or friend to find out what changes have occurred in the status of 5. You will want to keep a record of the women throughout her lifetime. Use the follow- answers to the questions. An excellent way is to ing questionnaire or make up one of your own. bring a tape recorder with you. Record the Share with your class what you discover through whole interview. Remember to ask for permis- your interviews. sion to tape the interview.Thank the person when the interview is concluded. Sample Questionnaire

Interviewer’s Name ______Date ______DATA ON PERSON INTERVIEWED Name ______Relationship to me ______1. Do you think women and men today have equal rights? Are there any ways women and men do not have equal rights today? ______2. Do you think women can do most jobs as well as men? ______3. Are there any jobs you think only men should have? If so, what jobs? Why? ______4. Are there any jobs you think only women should have? If so, what jobs? Why? ______5. When men and women have the same jobs, should they be paid exactly the same wages? ______6. In households where both the husband and the wife are employed outside the home, how should household chores be shared? ______7. Why is it more important for young women to be well educated today? ______8. Do you think women should be encouraged to run for political office? Why? ______9. Would you vote for a woman for prime minister of Canada? If not, why not? ______10. How has the position of women changed in your lifetime? ______11. How do you think the role of women will change in the next 20 years? ______264-285 120820 11/1/04 3:48 PM Page 278

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A Timeline of Canadian Women’s History

1769 Frances Brooke writes the first novel concerning Canada, The History of Emily Montague. Brooke lived in Canada while her husband was chaplain of the British troops at Québec.

1836 Catherine Parr Traill publishes The Backwoods of Canada about her early pioneer experiences.

1852 Susanna Moodie’s Roughing It in the Bush about pioneer life in Canada is published.

1882 Cora Hind is turned down for a job with the Winnipeg Free Press in 1882 because she is a woman. Eventually, she is hired and becomes the agricul- tural editor and a worldwide authority on grain.

1893 The National Council of Women is Susanna Moodie founded by Lady Aberdeen, wife of the governor general.

1897 Adelaide Hoodless founds the first Women’s Institute.

1911 Elizabeth Simcoe’s Diary is published about life in Upper Canada more than a century earlier.

1913 Alys McKey Bryant is the first woman to pilot an airplane in Canada.

1914-1918 Thousands of women enter the workforce during World War I to fill jobs vacated by men who have gone to fight.

1916 Emily Murphy is appointed a police magistrate in Edmonton, the first woman in the British empire to hold such a post.

1917 Louise McKinney and Roberta McAdams are elected to the Alberta legislature. They are the first female members of any provincial legislature.

1921 Agnes Campbell Macphail is the first woman elected to federal Parliament in Canada and serves for 19 years.

1927 Emily Carr is the first Canadian woman to achieve world-wide recognition as a painter. The National Gallery of Canada exhibits some of her best work.

1928 Ethel Catherwood (high jump), , Ethel Smith, Myrtle Cook, and Florence Bell (100 m relay), are the first Canadian women to win Olympic gold medals. 264-285 120820 11/1/04 3:48 PM Page 279

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1929 Thérèse Casgrain becomes leader of the League of Women’s Rights in Québec and works for women’s suffrage in that province.

1931 Cairine MacKay Wilson becomes Canada’s first woman senator.

1937 Laura Goodman Salverson wins the Governor General’s Award for literature for her novel, The Dark Weaver, about the life of an Icelandic immigrant in Manitoba.

1940 The Edmonton Grads, a women’s basketball team, is disbanded. The Grads were acknowledged as world champions at tournaments in 1924, 1928, 1932, and 1936.

1941 The Army, Air Force, and Navy recruit women into the Armed Services. The contri- bution of women to the labour force during World War II (1939-1945) expands the traditional roles of The Edmonton Grads women in Canadian society.

1948 wins the Olympic, World, and European figure-skating titles.

1954 Sixteen-year-old successfully swims Lake Ontario.

1957 Ellen Fairclough is the first woman appointed as a cabinet minister.

1960 The Canadian Bill of Rights makes it illegal to treat women unfairly because of their gender.

1967 The Royal Commission on the Status of Women is set up to work toward equal opportunities for women in all aspects of Canadian society.

1968 Nancy Greene wins a gold medal in skiing at the Olympic Games.

1972 Rosemary Brown is the first Black woman elected to a provincial legislature (British Columbia) in Canada.

1974 Pauline McGibbon is the first woman to become lieutenant-governor of Ontario.

1975 International Women’s Year. Grace Hartman is elected president of CUPE (Canadian Union of Public Employees), one of the most important unions in Canada.

1976 Jean Sutherland Boggs is Director of the National Gallery in Ottawa—the first woman in the world to head a major art institution. 264-285 120820 11/1/04 3:48 PM Page 280

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1982 Bertha Wilson is appointed as the first woman on the Supreme Court of Canada. Women’s rights are enshrined in the new Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

1984 Jeanne Sauvé is the first woman to become governor general of Canada. Anne Cools becomes Canada’s first Black female senator.

1986 Shirley Carr becomes the head of the Canadian Labour Congress. Sharon Wood of Canmore, Alberta, becomes the first North American woman to scale Mount Everest.

Audrey McLaughlin becomes the first woman 1989 Senator Anne Cools to lead a federal political party (New Democratic Party).

1991 Nellie Cournoyea becomes the government leader in the Northwest Territories.

1992 Dr. Roberta Bondar becomes the first Canadian woman in space. Kerrin Lee-Gartner wins the Olympic Gold medal in downhill skiing. Women’s rowing teams also win gold medals.

1993 Catherine Callbeck of Prince Edward Island becomes the first woman to be elected premier of a province in Canada. Kim Campbell becomes Canada’s first female Prime Minister. Senator Joyce Fairbairn becomes the first woman leader of the Government in the Senate.

1995 Alexa McDonough is selected leader of the federal New Democratic Party.

1996 Joan Grant-Cummings becomes the second woman of colour to head the National Action Committee on the Status of Women.

1997 Canadian women win the Women’s World Hockey Championship.

1999 Julie Payette is the second Canadian woman to participate in a NASA space mission.

Astronaut Julie Payette 264-285 120820 11/1/04 3:48 PM Page 281

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Fast Forward

traditional lower-paying “female” jobs. In 1997, Women Today 80% of people working in clerical jobs (office assis- Each year countries around the world celebrate tants, filing clerks, etc.) were women. The vast International Women’s Day on March 8. This day majority of nurses and teachers are also women, was first marked in 1911 to protest women’s but only about 20% of jobs in the natural sciences working conditions. In Canada, we celebrate are held by women. Women’s History Month in October and October However, changes are happening. More than half 18th is , the day women were made the students in Canadian universities are women “persons” under Canadian law. These dates and and many more female high school graduates have celebrations remind us that while some victories enrolled in university math and science programs. have been won, women today are still working The percentage of women working in management for changes in attitudes and equal opportunities and administrative positions has increased to 50% in some aspects of society. in 1997 and women are continuing to move into Today, women make up over 50% of the labour new and specialized areas. force. However, they still face job discrimination. For more information, visit the web site of the The majority of women still tend to be found in Status Of Women Canada at www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/.

WOMEN AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE WORKFORCE, BY OCCUPATION, 1901, 1921, 1997

80 79.3 75 1901 1921 1997 70 68.7

65

60 58.6 57.5 57.4 55 51.1 50 46.6 45 43.8 41.8 40

35

30 25.6 25 22.1 20 15.4 15.4 15 13.4 12.6 10.4 10 3.6 4.3 5

0 Managerial Clerical (office) Sales Service Skilled Labour All Occupations (Figures for 1901 are for women age 10 and over; figures for 1921 are for women age 15 and over; figures for 1997 are for women age 25 and over) Source: Statistics Canada 264-285 120820 11/1/04 3:48 PM Page 282

282 Unit 3 Canada: A Changing Society

Skill Building: Analyzing a Current Issue

Throughout the 20th century, women have Gather Information worked to achieve equality with men. However, 1. Brainstorm some of the issues facing women there are still some unresolved issues. How do today. we get more women actively involved in Canadian politics? How can we challenge laws 2. Individually or in small groups, choose an that are discriminatory to women? How can we issue from your list. Collect at least two articles stop violence against women? What can be done on the topic. Read the articles carefully so that about women who live in poverty? Are women you can understand the ideas that are being in sports treated equally with men? explained. To really understand any one of these issues, Let’s practise with an example. Read the you need to collect and analyze information following article. about it. Newspapers, magazines, and the Internet are good sources of current informa- tion. Here are some helpful steps to follow.

Women and Sports schools and universities What do Debbie Bozso (soft- is usually lower than ball), Abbie Hoffman (track that given to programs and field), Gail Cummings, for men. Women have and Justine Blainey (hockey) trouble getting an equal have in common? Each of amount of gym and ice these women excelled in her time. Professional wom- chosen sport. But each also en athletes do not earn fought for the right to play on the same salaries as men a boys’ team. They were for their skills or for among the first to challenge making special appear- the idea of teams for boys ances. fund- Government only. The battle went all the ing usually favours male way to the Supreme Court of The media do Lorie Kane wins an important Canada. Finally, the court athletes. not cover women’s sports tournament, it often doesn’t ruled that girls had the right to make front page news. play on boys’ teams. events in nearly as much detail. Nevertheless, women ath- For example, when Mike Weir, a letes do not enjoy a level play- male golfer, wins a tournament, ing field with men. Canadian his victory is splashed over the women still face disadvan- front page of the sports section. tages in sports. Funding for But when Dawn Coe-Jones or women’s sports programs in 264-285 120820 11/1/04 3:48 PM Page 283

Chapter 17: Women Demand Change 283

Organize Your Ideas Evaluate Ideas and Form Your Own 3. The next step is to examine the issue more Opinion closely. State the issue in the form of a question. 5. Hold a class discussion on the topic. Review For example:“Should women athletes receive the positive and negative points in your orga- equal funding and the same recognition as men?” nizer. Listen carefully and fairly to each other. Add to your organizer any additional points you 4. Every issue has positive and negative sides. consider important. Think about criteria you can use to compare the positive and negative aspects of your issue. For 6. Now, decide what your opinion is on the example, one criteria is the fairness of equal issue. Be able to support your decision.Write a funding for male and female athletes.You could paragraph in your notebook expressing your also consider who else will be affected if funding own point of view. is changed and how (consider spectators of sports, young aspiring athletes, businesses that sponsor sports teams, society in general, etc.). Arrange your ideas in an organizer like the one below.

Issue: Should women athletes receive equal funding and the same recognition as men?

Criteria Positive Negative Fairness of equal funding and recognition

Effects on women athletes

Effects on male athletes

Effects on sports spectators

Effects on funding for sports

Effects on businesses and governments that sponsor athletes or teams 264-285 120820 11/1/04 3:48 PM Page 284

284 Unit 3 Canada: A Changing Society

Activities Understanding Concepts

1. Add these new terms to your Factfile. Women’s Christian Women’s Institute Persons Case Temperance Union suffragist Famous Five Toronto Women’s suffrage opinion interview Literary Club

2. What roles did women play in Canada at the turn of the 20th century? 3. What did women decide they would have to do if they wanted to change their conditions? What were some of the ways women worked to achieve this goal? 4. How did the methods used by the suffrigists differ from those used by the suffragettes? Digging Deeper

5. TIMELINE Develop a timeline that shows the important events leading to equal voting rights for women in Canada.

6. CREATE Create pamphlets that suffragists might have distributed to make women aware of their rights and to encourage them to fight for the vote.

7. ROLE PLAY Act out the incident Elsie Inman describes on page 271. Following the presentation, hold a class discussion to decide what you would do if you were in this woman’s place in 1920.Would you have obeyed your husband and not voted? Would you have voted wearing a disguise? Would you have defied your husband’s wishes? Explain your action.

8. THINK/WRITE Not all women supported the idea of women’s suffrage.What reasons do you think they would give for keeping things as they were? Write a review of Nellie McClung’s mock parliament for a newspaper of the time from the point of view of a woman who does not want to see change.

9. CREATE Create political cartoons—some supporting suffrage for women and some against it.

10. DRAMA Organize and present a mock parliament like that put on by Nellie McClung at the Walker Theatre.Assign roles (you could include some of the famous women mentioned in this chapter). Prepare speeches and arguments beforehand. Rehearse and videotape the event for replaying to the class and for discussion. 264-285 120820 11/1/04 3:48 PM Page 285

Chapter 17: Women Demand Change 285

Making New Connections

11. THINK/CREATE Suppose your class has been asked to make a presentation for Women’s History Month next October. Your theme is “Highlights in Canadian Women’s History at the Turn of the 20th Century.” Decide what key events and people you want to highlight and how you will present them.You can cre- ate posters, photo collages, videos, etc.

12. INVESTIGATE Suppose you are asked to select an Honour Role of 12 Canadian women today who have made significant contributions to society. These women should represent many different fields and occupations (arts, sci- ences, media, politics, social work, finance, etc.).Your selection will be published in a leading Canadian magazine. a) Brainstorm criteria for your Honour Role.What are the most important factors when you are considering women to include? b) Do some investigating to compile a list of women who may be eligible. Magazines, newspapers, and television news reports and interview programs are good sources of information. Be prepared to defend your suggestions with information on the women’s contributions. Show that they meet your criteria. c) Decide on your final list of 12 women. Design a magazine page to present the profiles of your Honour Role. Create a page for each woman and post the pages in your classroom.