11.1: Changing Roles and Rules

How do social and political changes affect ideas of citizenship in Canada?

How do they affect the identities of Canadians?

subjective - based on or influenced by a persons thoughts, feelings and tastes

objective - based on facts and not by another persons thoughts, feelings and tastes

In grade 6 Social Studies, you learned about one of the suffragettes, Nellie McClung. This well-known activist was part of the Famous Five; five Alberta women who fought for the right for women to be equal to men in the eyes of the law.

In 1916, these women held a mock parliament in Winnipeg that showed what it would be like if the roles were reversed and men were not allowed to vote, and women were. During the skit, Nellie played the premier of their parliament. As the men in the story began to demand for equal rights, she dismissed their requests and poked fun at the men for even thinking that men were capable of making such important decisions as voting for a leader.

By 1916, women were given the right to vote in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, but were not allowed to vote in federal elections until 1918. The changes to voting in federal elections were spurred on by the "Women's Parliament" and having men demand to have the right to vote, during the play.

Drama Presentation

Read the news article on page 346 and respond to the following questions:

1. To what extent is this article an objective report on the women's parliament? Find examples of facts and opinions in the article.
2. In your opinion, what position did the author of this article take on the issue of women's rights to vote: for or against? Find specific words or descriptions in the article to support your position.