"If politics mean...the effort to secure through legislative action better conditions of life for the people, greater opportunities for our children and other people’s children...then it most assuredly is a woman’s job as much as it is a man’s job."
-Irene Parlby, one of the Famous Five [5]
Objective Conditions
Up until the 20th century, men had always ruled around the world. Society had always stuck with Patriarchy, a social system of society or government in
which men hold the power and women are largely excluded from it. There had not been many women that had done anything about it, since it was an expectation of society. This, however, was not the only problem. Most women did not have the confidence to go up against men, or their husbands or fathers would not allow them to attend meetings on this subject. [6] In Canada, women did not have the right to represent the people or hold a position in any elected office before 1916. Although the law preventing women from running in office had not been made very clear, women had never fought for their rights. However there were at least five women in Canada that did fight for their rights, eventually joining forces and winning the right for women to hold a position in an elected office. These women were forced to have "Pink Teas," meetings that were supposedly just for general pleasant discussion, but would be used as a time to discuss various issues of importance, including women's rights. [7]
which men hold the power and women are largely excluded from it. There had not been many women that had done anything about it, since it was an expectation of society. This, however, was not the only problem. Most women did not have the confidence to go up against men, or their husbands or fathers would not allow them to attend meetings on this subject. [6] In Canada, women did not have the right to represent the people or hold a position in any elected office before 1916. Although the law preventing women from running in office had not been made very clear, women had never fought for their rights. However there were at least five women in Canada that did fight for their rights, eventually joining forces and winning the right for women to hold a position in an elected office. These women were forced to have "Pink Teas," meetings that were supposedly just for general pleasant discussion, but would be used as a time to discuss various issues of importance, including women's rights. [7]
Emily Murphy
Emily Murphy, got into this fight of women's rights one day in 1916 when she and a group of women attempted to observe a trial for women accused of prostituting. They were asked to leave the court room because the case was apparently "not fit for mixed company." Emily Murphy then argued that "If the evidence is not fit to be heard in mixed company, then the government must set up a special court presided over by women, to try other women.” [8] Her request was heard by the Attorney General of Alberta, and she became the first woman police magistrate for the British Empire, serving at the Edmonton Municipal Court. In 1917, the Alberta Supreme Court ruled that women were "persons" in Alberta, and consequently could hold a position in any elected office within Alberta. [9] This encouraged Emily Murphy to put her name down to become a Senator, but the lawyer Eardley Jackson challenged her on the basis that women were not considered "persons" outside of Alberta by an 1876 British Common Law saying that "women were eligible for pains and penalties, but not rights and privileges." [10] She was not allowed to run for Senate, but she was still a judge. It wasn't until ten years later that she formed the Famous Five group, eventually leading to a change in law for all of Canada.
Women Winning Representation Rights in Manitoba
Figure 1: Political Equality League of Manitoba executive after witnessing the passage of the Suffrage Bill
Before the Person's Case, the Political Equality League of Manitoba had already started to promote gender equality. Nellie McClung, a future member of the Famous Five, became an important speaker in the League. [11] In 1916, thanks to the Political Equality League, Manitoba women became the first in Canada to have the right to vote and run for office in provincial elections. Manitoba was followed by Saskatchewan, Alberta, BC, and Ontario over the next two years. [12] Although the issue had been solved for provincial elections, women could still not hold office anywhere else, including the Senate.