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Women in Canada in the 1920’s

Women in Canada in the 1920’s. By 1918 all Canadian women can vote in FEDERAL elections. However, women are still not a strong presence in politics. But women don’t give up. Political parties still male-dominated Women join volunteer organizations and separate party committees

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Women in Canada in the 1920’s

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  1. Women in Canada in the 1920’s By 1918 all Canadian women can vote in FEDERAL elections. However, women are still not a strong presence in politics.

  2. But women don’t give up • Political parties still male-dominated • Women join volunteer organizations and separate party committees • Push for women’s rights, child welfare policies, prison reform, and world peace

  3. Women win the Mother’s Allowance • Provided funds to women who desperately needed it (widows, wives of men physically unable to provide for their families) • Closely monitored to ensure it was spent on “necessities” • Did not keep families with no other income out of poverty

  4. Agnes Macphail • In 1921 Canada’s first female MP (Member of Parliament) was elected • Macphail advocated for farmers, workers, women and prisoners • She was the only woman MP elected

  5. According to the British North America Act women are not persons under the law This means that they could not hold public office (be a judge or senator) Five women activists decide to challenge this The Persons Case

  6. The “Famous Five” • Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung, Irene Parlby, Louise McKinney and Henrietta Muir Edwards were not stopped when in 1928 the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that women were not “persons”

  7. Women become “persons” • The “Famous Five” appealed to the Privy Council in Britian • They convince the Council that women are “persons” under the law • The ruling said: “The exclusion of women from all public offices is a relic of days more barbaric than ours….To those who ask why the word [“person”] should include females the obvious answer is why should it not?”

  8. Cairnine Wilson • Women could now be appointed to the Senate • The first female senator was Cairnine Wilson • Appointed in 1930 by Prime Minister Mackenzie King

  9. The Flapper • Women proclaim their equality to men in their dress • The Flapper has a boyish look – no curves – and wears her hair short • She shows more skin than the previous generation, and wears make up

  10. The Flapper in public • “She strides about on high heels, her cigarettes, holder, car keys, face powder and money safe in the handbag she clutches in kid gloves. Her sisters made the ammunition that won the Great War, and also the vote. She’s equal to her men, and has the look to prove it.”

  11. Immigrants • The government placed restrictions on immigration • Immigrants from Britain and the U.S. were welcomed • Immigrants from southern and eastern Europe could come if they had employment as servants or farm hands • Immigrants from Asia were barred

  12. Restrictions relax • When the economy improved in 1925 restrictions were relaxed • When immigrants came they ended up in city slums where they worked in awful conditions for extremely low wages

  13. Aboriginals • The Indian Act made the federal government responsible for helping and protecting Aboriginals, but the government did little to help them • Instead they attempted to assimilate Aboriginal Nations through the school system

  14. The Williams Treaty • Signed in 1923 the Williams Treaty gave the government 32,347 square kilometres of Aboriginal land • Aboriginal bands were paid $500,000 and individuals were paid $25

  15. Aboriginals organize • Aboriginal groups come together to claim their rights • In 1918 WWI veteran F.O. Loft ( a member of the Six Nations Reserve) forms the League of Indians of Canada • Loft’s goal was unite all Aboriginal Nations in Canada to negotiate with the Department of Indian Affairs

  16. The Department of Indian Affairs • “I want to get rid of the Indian problem… Our object is to continue until there is not a single Indian in Canada that has not been absorbed into the body politic, and there is no Indian question, and no Indian Department.’ • D.C. Scott, Deputy Minister, Indian Affairs

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