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Women Enter the Factories
When World War One began, many men left their jobs in factories to go fight for Canada in Europe. Canada's factories also expanded to produce supplies for the war. This created a shortage of workers. To fill this shortage, thousands of women entered to workforce to work in the factories doing the jobs that men had done previously. For safety reasons, many women cut their hair, a style more traditional with men. -
"The Flapper" film is released
An American film called "The Flapper" was released. It was about the independent and pleasure seeking women that came out of WWI. The women it was about were inspired by women gaining more rights in WWI and showing that they were equal to men during the war by doing the same jobs as them. The stereotypical flapper had short hair, smoked, wore lots of make-up, shorter skirts or fashion that was similar to men, and drank alcohol - all things that were stereotypically male things. -
Dominion Elections Act
The Dominion Elections Act gave all Canadian women (except indigenous women) the right to vote in Canadian elections). In prior elections some women could vote. In most provinces, women had already gained the right to vote. Quebec women would not get the right to vote in Quebec elections until the 1940s. -
Agnes MacPhail elected to the House of Commons
Agnes MacPhail was the first woman to be elected to the Canadian government. Women had only started to vote in 1917 for Canadian elections. She kept her independence by never marrying, earning her own money, and supporting herself. She used this power to help improve conditions in Canadian prisons. In the picture - notice her short hair - just like the women in the factories and the flappers of the time period. -
Maternity Protection Act
British Columbia passed the Maternity Protection Act. This was the first law in Canada to guarantee women the right to maternity leave after having a baby. They were given 6 weeks of leave and able to return to their jobs. -
Women gain the right to divorce
Canadian divorce laws changed and allowed women and men to divorce for the same reasons. This was a significant event for Canadian women as it was the first time in Canada where women were able to obtain a divorce on the same grounds as men. Also, the government's decision to modify the original law showed a step towards gender equality in society. Previous to this year, women could only divorce if they proved "bestiality" on the part of their husbands. -
Women on Olympic team
For the first time Canadian women were included in the Canadian Olympic team at the Summer Games in Amsterdam. Canadian women won 4 medals including gold in the high jump and 4x100 relay, as well as silver and bronze in the 100m. -
Persons Case is decided
According to Canadian law, women were not considered persons which meant there were limits on what they could do such as own land. The Persons Case was fought by 5 women from Alberta to get women recognized in the law as persons. They eventually had to take the case to the British government where it was decided that women were persons, just like men.