The Famous Five
Storyboard Text
- Underlying Conditions and Actions
- Who were the Famous Five?
- Emily Murphy
- Nellie McClung
- Henrietta Muir Edwards
- Louise McKinney
- Irene Parlby
- What did they do?
- In 1918, all women could vote in elections. However, they couldn't do much else politically because they were not yet equal by law.
- Perseverance
- To those who would ask why the word 'person' should include females, the obvious answer is, why should it not?
- The Famous Five were five Canadian women who's goal was to make women equal to men under the law. Their names were Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Louise McKinney and Irene Parlby.
- Victory!
- First Female Judge
- First Female Senator
- In 1927, the Famous Five went to the Supreme Court of Canada to ask whether or not women counted as "persons" on the BNA Act. After three months, the Supreme Court answered no.
- Conclusion
- The women didn't give up. Together with Prime Minister King, they went to the British Privy Council to ask them to review the case. The British Privy Council decided that yes, women counted as "persons".
- The Famous Five's victory led to women having a greater role in society. Soon after the British Privy Council's decision, Cairine Wilson became the first woman appointed to Senate.
- Emily Murphy
- Cairine Wilson
- The decisions made involving the person's case have impacted our society today. It's made us more amenable and inclusive. Women and men are now considered equals both politically and in the workplace, although stereotypes still exist.
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