March 8, 2004
Celebrated under the banner “She’s on a
Role,” on March 8, 2004 thousands of women and men all over
the world will celebrate the achievements made in women’s
equality.
It is a day for all to think about the
progress that has been made as well as to consider the
challenges facing women today and how best to continue work
towards making equality a reality for women everywhere.
The struggle for women’s equality has been a
long and difficult one. March 8, 1908 became significant in
this fight when 15,000 garment makers in New York went on
strike to demand shorter hours, better pay, voting rights and
an end to child labour. Ever since that day, this courageous
action has been an inspiration to women all over the world.
Louise McKinney (1868-1931), one of
Alberta’s Famous Five who struggled for women’s rights said,
“The purpose of a woman’s life is just the same as the purpose
of a man’s life: that she may make the best possible
contribution to her generation.”
Louise McKinney played a leading role in
bringing Alberta women the right to vote in 1916. She was also
the first woman to be sworn in to the Alberta Legislature and
the first in any Legislature in the British Empire.
The Famous Five and the Persons Case
Now, in Canada, the Governor General offers
Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case led by five
amazing Alberta women: Emily Murphy, Louise McKinney, Irene
Parlby, Nellie McClung and Henrietta Muir Edwards.
These five women asked the Supreme Court of
Canada to answer this question: “Does the word “person” in
Section 24 of the B.N.A. Act include female persons?” After
five weeks of debate, the Supreme Court of Canada decided that
the word “person” did not include women.
Shocked by this decision, these five
determined women took their question to the Privy Council in
England. On October 18, 1929, Lord Sankey, Lord Chancellor of
the Privy council announced the decision of the five lords
that stated “…the exclusion of women from all public offices
is a relic of days more barbarous than ours. And to those who
would ask why the word 'person' should include females, the
obvious answer is, why should it not?” And so, women were
pronounced “persons.” It was a great victory for equal
rights.
Two Vocabulary Quizzes
Women's Day Matching Quiz 1
Women's Day Matching Quiz 2
Links:
Status of Women Canada
What Do You Mean, Women
Couldn’t Vote? (Quiz)
Commemorative Dates from the Status of Women Newsroom
The “Famous
Five” and the Persons Case
Women Become Persons CBC Archives
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