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Women
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None of the Famous 5 were appointed
to the Canadian Senate. However, the Famous 5 secured
the right for women to vote and serve as elected
officials on school boards, hospital boards, and at the
municipal, provincial, and federal level. Despite such
opportunities, many Canadian women showed little
interest in politics, perhaps because social ideology
still dictated that women remain in the domestic sphere.
The Second World War brought
increasing opportunities for women, as employment
shortages opened up jobs to women that were previously
considered "men's work." Many worked in
factories or enlisted to support the
war effort, but few pursued political office.
Even after the war, most women showed
little interest in politics. Women's involvement in
Canadian federal and provincial politics was limited
until the 1970s. The international peace movement during
the late 1960s certainly involved women, but not to any
great extent in politics.
Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau
responded to a record number of women in his Parliament
by appointing the first Minister Responsible for the
Status of Women in 1971. A record of nine female
candidates were elected to Parliament in 1974. By 1979,
12 women were serving in the Senate.
Women's social status has
improved remarkably in the last century. More women work
outside of the home than ever, and share household
responsibilities with their husbands. However, while
women participate actively in politics at all levels,
there are still certain positions that men are more
likely to perform than women, and vice-versa. While laws
may change overnight, social ideology takes time to
catch up.
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