Directly from birth, October, 20th 1873, Nellie was, according to the “eyes” of the Canadian Law, not officially recognized as a “person.” Woman were viewed as “the homemakers,” an idea that they belonged at home, in disregarded existence. At time where there was prevalent injustice, bigotry and inferiority directed towards woman, they did not meet the “qualifications” that were required to be acknowledged in the world of male-dominated politics. A reading from Section 24 of the BNA Act established by the Federal Government, stated that only ‘‘properly qualified persons might be called to the Senate.” This rule meant woman were ineligible to uphold the position of Senate and were to not be referred to as a “person.” For women, there was
…show more content…
It was here, in the world of politics, that she utilized her capability; working to improve the quality of life and the treatment of Canadian citizens. Marcia McClung, the granddaughter of Nellie McClung expressed that Nellie “was interested in a wide range of social issues . . . (including) immigrants getting a fair shake in Canadian society. It was a broad spectrum of empowerment — fairness and people being treated equally, that was a real theme for her.” Nellie sponsored social advancement, giving speeches that surrounded the different aspects of suffrage that Canadians experienced. She covered topics such as: the need for dental clinics, medical care for school children, the requirement of traveling libraries, the offering of public-health nursing services, the use of birth control, the ownership of property for married women, mothers ' allowances, old age pensions, the limitations regarding the fertility of the “mentally unfit” , temperance and the benefit of prohibition. “She provided a role model for women who didn’t want to feel they were on the margins of public life — her whole tough-but-funny warmth meant that she wasn’t a scary character.” She won over the audience’s approval with her bold, witty remarks; a use of humor and confidence that was un-spoken and unheard-of from women at the time. Throughout her life as a political activist, agitator, platform speaker and mother, Nellie McClung continued in her pursuit for change and desire to spread the message of suffrage that Canadians experienced. She established a “prolific writing career” , producing countless articles and opinion pieces for Canadian magazines, a collection of short stories, a grand total of 16 books, and two volumes of autobiographies; all of which portrayed life during the suffrage movement. With Nellie McClung 's insistence on the improvement of women 's inequitable rights as human beings, she
It was here, in the world of politics, that she utilized her capability; working to improve the quality of life and the treatment of Canadian citizens. Marcia McClung, the granddaughter of Nellie McClung expressed that Nellie “was interested in a wide range of social issues . . . (including) immigrants getting a fair shake in Canadian society. It was a broad spectrum of empowerment — fairness and people being treated equally, that was a real theme for her.” Nellie sponsored social advancement, giving speeches that surrounded the different aspects of suffrage that Canadians experienced. She covered topics such as: the need for dental clinics, medical care for school children, the requirement of traveling libraries, the offering of public-health nursing services, the use of birth control, the ownership of property for married women, mothers ' allowances, old age pensions, the limitations regarding the fertility of the “mentally unfit” , temperance and the benefit of prohibition. “She provided a role model for women who didn’t want to feel they were on the margins of public life — her whole tough-but-funny warmth meant that she wasn’t a scary character.” She won over the audience’s approval with her bold, witty remarks; a use of humor and confidence that was un-spoken and unheard-of from women at the time. Throughout her life as a political activist, agitator, platform speaker and mother, Nellie McClung continued in her pursuit for change and desire to spread the message of suffrage that Canadians experienced. She established a “prolific writing career” , producing countless articles and opinion pieces for Canadian magazines, a collection of short stories, a grand total of 16 books, and two volumes of autobiographies; all of which portrayed life during the suffrage movement. With Nellie McClung 's insistence on the improvement of women 's inequitable rights as human beings, she