Emily Murphy: A Canadian Hero

She gathered many women who felt like they needed more rights. Susan B Anthony was one of the bravest women known till this day. She stood for what she believed in that is why she is so important. She helped women’s rights progress(web designer 1-2)

She continuously is aiding the lives of children that are desperate need of help. Moreover, she has uplifted the divide of having only one type of skin colour present in the Senate. She has fulfilled her duties of what she desired to accomplish through her career and is a living example of how one person can affect the hundreds of thousands of lives that will change the way they see and perceive the world. She is an inspiration to many through her numerous contributions to Canada.

Since the 19th Century, women in Canada have fought political, legal, and social battles to find their place in Canadian society. From starting out in small, local organizations, to legal battles in the Supreme Court, Canadian women have come a long way. Unfortunately, it took a long time for many people to adapt to the changing roles of women, which made women still feel unequal compared to men. It is really striking to think that at one point society questioned if women could even be considered persons, just a small sample of the many changes women had to face through the course of history. This paper will analyze these changes experienced by Canadian women in that time period and how it affected their everyday lives.

The first reason that shows that Canada has become a “just society” is the changes to women’s legal rights. Since the 1970s, many women have stepped up to the work of politics. Several instances include Kim Campbell, the first woman to become the prime minister of Canada,1 Kathleen Wynne, the first premier of Canada to be lesbian,2 Beverley McLachlin, the “first female chief of justice of the Supreme Court of Canada,”3 and Catherine Callbeck, the second female provincial premiere and first woman to win

“We may yet live to see that day when women will no longer be news. And it cannot come too soon. I want to be a peaceful, happy, normal human being, pursuing my unimpeded way through life, never having to explain, defend, or apologize for my sex” (Nellie McClung, 1929). Throughout most of history, men have had greater rights than women. In present days, the equality between men and women have improved, despite the fact that some countries are still striving to establish those same rights for both genders. What impact did Nellie McClung make on Canadian society? She is a perfect example of a Canadian social activist who advocated for the rights of women throughout the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. In this essay, I will examine the depictions of the fight for suffrage and the stand for electoral office, in addition to the contribution of the Famous 5 and the type of feminism she represented in order to demonstrate the impact and influence she had as a Canadian woman.

Women were also allowed to get educations and go into teaching and nursing positions. The Person’s Case was another highlight which demonstrates the advancements of women’s right in Canadian history. This case included five women who ultimately help transform the way women were seen. Emily Murphy played a significant role in establishing women’s rights which led to women being called “persons” in matters of rights and privileges. Furthermore, another female Canadian named Nellie McClung helped in getting the right to vote for women. Ultimately resulting in the May 24th, 1918 Act allowing all women 21 years of age or more in Canada the official right to vote even if they did not have the provincial license. The war brought many changes to Canada and around the world. Women were finally being recognized for their efforts and perseverance and acquiring new freedoms and improved rights for themselves. During the 1920’s, women became more involved in society and continued to participate in the work force. Women continued to make half the earning men were making at that time but by 1929 women made up about 20% of the workforce. The Women’s Labour League worked to defend women workers and the labour movement. They exposed shortfalls in the minimum wage laws and fought for equal pay, maternity care and a women right for birth control. Women were finally making their mark in government. By 1939,

Emily’s upbringing is plagued with difficulties. She is the first-born of a young mother and the eldest of five brothers and sisters. As a baby, she is

Emily Murphy was a part of the Dower Act. Emily thought of the idea because she knew a man that sold his farm with his wife. He took all the money and left the women and their children, with nothing. Emily did not think this was fair and took a stand. She created the Dower Act. This defended property rights to married women. The Dower act protected married women’s rights to one-third portion of her husband’s property. Emily spent many years studying this topic and in 1911 it was passed upon the Alberta legislature. Emily Murphy had many things to yet be discovered after the Dower Act.

At the age of 40, when her children became independent and began their separate lives, Murphy began to actively organize women's groups where the isolated housewives could meet and discuss ideas and plan group projects. In addition to these organizations, Murphy began to speak openly and frankly about the disadvantaged and the poor living conditions that surrounded their society. Emily’s strong interest in the rights and protection of women and children intensified when she was made aware of an unjust experience of an Albertan woman whose husband sold the family farm. After the husband sold the farm, he abandoned his wife and children who were left homeless and poor. At that time, property laws did not leave the wife with any legal recourse. This case motivated Murphy to create a campaign that assured the property rights of married women called the Dower Act. With the support of many rural women, Murphy began to pressure the Alberta government to allow women to retain the rights of their land. In 1916, Murphy successfully persuaded the Alberta legislator to pass the Dower Act that would allow a woman legal rights to one third of her husband's property. Murphy's reputation as a women's rights activist was established by this first political

The result of Emily's effort was that on June 19, 1916, Judge Murphy became "first woman police magistrate in the British Empire.". In January 1921 Mrs. Murphy received a letter from a secretary of the Montreal Women's Club saying that women "here" want her in the senate. This letter encouraged Emily to fight "the question through to a finish ..." In August 27, 1927 Judge Murphy sent a letter to Ottawa "in a request by the governor-general-in- council to the Supreme Court for a ruling on the question, `Does the word Persons in Section 24 of the British North America Act 1867, include female persons?'" Section 24 was the excuse of Senators not letting a woman to be a `person' and therefore not allowing women to hold political office.

Emily Murphy was born on March 14 1868. She was a Canadian women's rights activist, jurist, and author. She became the first female magistrate in Canada and in the British Empire in 1916. She is known for her help to Canadian feminism, especially to the question of whether women were "persons" under Canadian law. Next is Mary Irene Parlby

The definition of great is of an extent, amount, or intensity considerably above the normal or average. The idea of being great is to be above average which being said doesn’t sound too difficult. But in order to be above average we need to recognize what the average life is like or the average person and push ourselves to strive above that. Not everyone is willing to push themselves to stand out, the notion of standing out can be sometimes frightening but people who want to achieve greatness must push past these obstacles and that is what distinguishes them and separates them from everyone else. A great person needs be persistent and is capable to endure anything life throws at them and turns it into something positive as well as significant. An example of someone who fits all these characteristics and is always moving past what society is saying to fight for what’s right, Emily Murphy.

Emily Murphy was born on March 14, 1868 in Cookstown, Ontario, she lead an average early life, being born into a legal family; she became an expert in legal practices. Emily married in 1887. Shortly after being married she moves into England and follows her career as a writer under the pseudonym, `Janey Canuck`. She started to attract attention to herself when she moved to Edmonton in 1907. She begins to involve herself in women's rights and in 1910 becomes the first female appointed into the Edmonton Hospital board. Then with the

Emily is a character surrounded by mystery, leaving a mark on the influence of others, causing them to create their own scenarios about her life. It happened when she met Homer, when everyone hoped she will marry him, or when she bought poison and everyone thought she would poison herself. Her high wealthy status and respect were emphasized when she kicked out the people who

Women being able to vote was a huge step forward for Canadian women, but even though they could run for certain political positions, they could not be Senators. During the early twentieth century women were not legally considered “persons” and could not be Senators (Women become Persons). This act of exclusion portrayed Canada as an immature nation. A milestone with significant importance occurred in the Persons Case. The first constitution of Canada was the BNA Act (British North America Act). In this constitution it referred to a group of people as “persons” but when one individual was referenced they used the word ‘he”. The constitution restricted women from holding public office. (History Canadian resources book) The act declared that “women are persons in matters of pain and penalties, but are not persons in matters of rights and privileges.” Therefore, women could be given the same penalties as men for breaking a law, but could not receive the same basic benefits that men could. Unfair legalities like this proves that Canada was