Together, they are the Famous 5—known best as the group
who struggled to have women recognized as "persons" by law.
Aside from their collective work, each was a prominent
leader in her own right. The following pages will introduce
Emily Murphy, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Louise McKinney, Irene
Parlby, and Nellie McClung and allow one to explore their
private lives as well as the significance of their public
involvements and achievements.
Female suffrage was achieved in Canada as a direct result
of the efforts of community-builders such as the Famous 5.
At a time where women were not accorded fundamental rights,
each of these remarkable women worked to gain rights for
women, their efforts instrumental in changing public
perception. This section will look at the historical debate
surrounding giving women the right to vote, the groups
involved in promoting female suffrage, as well as an account
of how the right was eventually granted.
The Person's case was another landmark victory for women,
and is the most well-known achievement of the Famous 5. This
section will examine the cause for which these women fought,
trace its progress through the early disappointment, the
final victory, and the reactions and effects that resulted.
Although achieving female suffrage and winning the
'Persons' Case were highlights in Canada during the first
half of the 20th century, other issues and causes were of
extreme concern to women. An exploration of the role of
Prohibition and the Temperance Movement, the work to achieve
equal pay for equal work and the laws surrounding women's
property rights will reveal a more complete picture of the
role of women in Canada during its younger years.
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This one-minute vignette shows
the beginnings of the women's suffrage movement in
Canada, culminating with women receiving the vote.
Watch Now |
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