Women's Rights Timeline

Bibliography:

https://www.ournellie.com/learn/womens-suffrage/canadian-history-of-womens-rights/

http://www.heroines.ca/history/1928olympics.html

Women's Rights Timeline

1925:Divorce Laws Changed

1921:Maternity Leave

1918: Caucasian Women Allowed To Vote

1929:Senate Of Canada

The Famous Five(Emily Murphy, Irene Parlby, Nellie McClung, Henrietta Muir Edwards and Louise Crummy McKinney) take their case to The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in England (Canada’s final Court of Appeal at the time) which overturns the decision of the Canadian Supreme Court’s “Persons” case and it recognizes Canadian women as "persons" under the law. As a result, women are then “eligible to be summoned to and become members of the Senate of Canada”.

The federal divorce law is changed allowing women for the first time to obtain a divorce on the same grounds as men. This meaning that now women are not only allowed to vote, but to fight for a divorce on the same grounds as men. Meaning that women were then allowed to take custody and property from their former husbands.

British Columbia passes a law that allows women to have six weeks of maternity leave before and after giving birth. No other province or territory has maternity leave until 1964 but this is the first step to allowing women the right to work a full time job and also care for their kids.

By 1918, all Caucasian women are able to vote in federal elections. You are only eligible to vote if you're a women if you are...

-21 or older

-Not alien-born

-and if you meet property requirements in provinces where they exist

1930

1914

1923:Equality For Men & Women

1928:The Olympics

1920:Women's Voting Rights

For the first time, Canada’s Olympic Team includes female athletes. These women were dubbed the name "The Matchless Six". They were Bobbie Rosenfeld, Jean Thompson, Ethel Smith, Mrytle Cook, Ethel Catherwood, and Florence Bell. One was a swimmer and the others were runners for Canada.

The Equal Rights Amendment(written by Alice Paul) is presented to Congress and allows women the same rights as men. This includes divorce, property, employment, and other matters regarding the difference between men and women. This is a major step for women because now the government doesn't just see the women as people, instead they now see women as having equal rights as men as well.

The Federal electoral law is amended. The Dominion Elections Act allows every eligible Canadian over 21, male or female, to vote in federal elections. This does not, however, include Aboriginal peoples, Inuit peoples or anyone barred from a provincial voters’ list. This includes Asians and Hindus people.