Feminism and Suffrage 1919

Do you consider yourself to be a person?

WHY?

What is Suffrage?

• Women’s suffrage is the right of women to vote and to run for office.

Starting Point

1878 with Dr. Emily Howard Stowe

History – Provincial - Votes

Province/Territory Date

Manitoba January 28, 1916 Saskachewan March 14, 1916 Alberta April 19, 1916 British Columbia April 5, 1917 Ontario April 12, 1917 Nova Scotia April 26, 1918 New Brunswick April 17, 1919

Yukon May 20th, 1919P.I.E May 3, 1922 Newfoundland April 13, 1925 Quebec April 25, 1940: due to the fearless work of Thérèse Casgrain

Northwest Territories June 12th, 1951

History - Federal

On 24 May 1918 all female citizens aged 21 and over became eligible to vote in federal elections, regardless of whether they had yet attained the provincial franchise.

Person’s Case

Five women appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada and as a result, obtained rights similar to those of men.

The Famous 5 – Their Case

Emily Murphy, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Irene Parlby, Louise McKinney and Nellie McClung.

Does the word "Persons" in section 24 of the British North America Act 1867, include female persons?

Emily Murphy

Henrietta Muir Edwards

Irene Parlby

Louise McKinney

Nellie McClung

Privy Council Verdict

"yes, women are persons . . . and eligible to be summoned and may become Members of the Senate of Canada.“

Famous 5 – Other Achievements

• the Famous 5 also secured the right for women to vote and serve as elected officials at the school board, hospital board, and at the municipal, provincial, and federal level.

• As the Senate is the senior law making body in Canada, these remarkable nation builders also sought the right for women to participate at this level.

• As well, they advocated for and assisted in the creation of libraries, travelling health clinics, distance education, mother's allowance, equal citizenship of mothers and fathers, prison reform, and many other initiatives that we cherish today

Who was left out?

• Black women were left out of the vote

• Immigrant women from Asia were also left out of the vote

• Aboriginal women still could not vote

Class Discussion

• Have you ever felt discriminated against due to your gender?

• What did you do when this happened?

Activity• The class is going to be split up into

two groups: men and women.• In our classroom world Men are not

able to drive cars.• This is a right that they would like to

have.• Men – you will argue why you should

be able to drive.• Women – you will argue that men

shouldn’t be able to drive.