Women Demand Change a Mock Parliament

264-285 120820 11/1/04 3:47 PM Page 264 Chapter 17 Women Demand Change A Mock Parliament It is 27 January 1914. 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. Manitoba. 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. Winnipeg, 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 264 264-285 120820 11/1/04 3:47 PM Page 265 Chapter 17: Women Demand Change 265 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 266 266 Unit 3 Canada: A Changing Society Civics & Society Women’s Changing Roles More women were working outside the home in factories, mills, stores, and offices. Most women in these jobs, however, were unmarried.They were also paid far less than men and had few opportunities for promotions. Once married, 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 Chapter 17: Women Demand Change 267 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 268 268 Unit 3 Canada: A Changing Society 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 Chapter 17: Women Demand Change 269 New Organizations In the late 1800s, women were beginning 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 number 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.

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