Changing Roles of Women Social Studies 11 November 26, 2010.

Changing Roles of Women

Social Studies 11November 26, 2010

Name That Canadian…

World War I

• 100’s of women volunteered to work overseas

• Primarily nurses or ambulance drivers (approx. 2500)

World War I

• Nurses who served in the Canadian Army Medical Corps known as “bluebirds” (reference to uniform colour)

• Many killed or injured by artillery fire, bombs, poison gas

World War I - Home Front

• # of women in labour force increased dramatically

• Canada’s wartime economy would have collapsed without their efforts

Suffragette Movement

• Women’s roles during WWI strengthened suffrage movement

• 1918: all Canadian women given the right to vote in federal elections

1920’s• Women enjoyed

greater freedom

• Worked jobs formerly held by men

• Fewer clothing restrictions: “shocking” bathing suits & short skirts appeared

Women’s Christian Temperance Union

• Believed alcohol was evil

• Put pressure on the U.S. government to ban production, sale and consumption of alcohol

• A.K.A. Prohibition

Prohibition• Rationale:

• alcohol led to family abuse, diseases, poverty, child labour, etc.

• Belief that criminal activities would decline

• Reality: organized crime increased

Prohibition in Canada

• Significant loopholes in Canadian prohibition laws

• Doctors could prescribe alcohol for their patients

• Provinces eventually sold liquor in government-controlled stores - Prohibition over

Agnes Macphail

• 1921: first female member of Parliament

• Called for prison reform in 1930’s

Famous Five• Composed of five

women from Alberta:

• Emily Murphy

• Nellie McClung

• Henrietta Muir Edwards

• Louise McKinney

• Irene Parlby

Emily Murphy• First female judge

in the British Empire

• Challenged in her own court by lawyers

• Claimed she was not considered a “person” under the BNA Act

• 1927 :Famous Five challenged the Act in the Supreme Court of Canada

“Person’s Case”• 1927 - Supreme

Court ruled against Famous Five

• 1928 - Famous Five appealed to the British Privy Council

• 1929 - Council stated that “persons” includes both men and women

“Famous Five” sculptureOttawa, Ontario

Changing Roles of Women Social Studies 11 November 26, 2010.

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