Canada: The Defining Moments of a Nation

A defining moment is the point at which, a bunk is clearly seen to undergo a change. Canada, as a growing nation, has encountered m whatever defining moments throughout its history. During the twentieth century women of Canada have undergone numerous moments that brought about square changes for themselves. The most prominent moments, which brought about the most change and significance are the persons case of 1928, the womens liberation movement throughout the 1960s and 70s and the ratification of the Treaty for Rights of Women (CEDAW) in 1981.These trio events in Canadas history brought about many crucial changes for the woman of Canada. After woman won the persons case in 1929, Canada fin eachy considered women to be profound persons. awareness of womens equating came to the fore front during the womans liberation movement in the 1960s and 1970s. Finally in 1981 Canada enforced stricter laws for crimes against woman, when it sanctioned the Treaty for Rights of Women. It beca me socially and politically unsatisf characterizationory for women to be the scapegoats of society. These moments changed they way women where treated in society, politics, and in the workforce.The infamous persons case of 1928 gained national recognition when fivesome Alberta women, known today as the famous five took on the Supreme woo of Canada, asking if the word persons in section 24 of the British North American Act included women. The Supreme Court of Canada rulight-emitting diode that the word persons did non include women. This meant women were not considered legal persons, eligible to run or patronage office, or be a part of any political stance. After their great loss to the Supreme Court, they continued the fence, and brought their case to the British Privy Council, where they where victorious.The British Privy council announced that women were indeed persons, and as overlord Chancellor of the Privy Council put it The exclusion of woman from all public offices is a relic of days more barbarous than ours. The persistence of these five Alberta women led all Canadian women to victory in 1929. It was no surprise these women are known today as the famous five. Prior to this defining moment, women were not considered legal persons in the matters of rights and privileges. However, when they won their case women were considered legal persons and now had the same rights and privileges of any man.Before this time in history, women were not eligible to run or hold public office. It was simply not allowed under the British North American Act. The word persons excluded woman and all nouns, pronouns and adjectives in the British North American act where masculine, and that was who was meant to govern Canada. The triumph of the persons case allowed women to become appointed senators of Canada and members of federal bodies. In 1930 the first female senator, Carnie Wilson, was appointed by Prime Minister Mackenzie King.Today 229 members of sevens are wom en. The persons case also gave women hope. The persons case brought about numerous significant changes for women, and can be considered a defining moment for the women of Canada. By 1960 womens rights groups were showing up all over Canada. The womens movement had begun. In 1966 thirty-two different womens groups from across Canada came together to for the Committee for the Equality of Women in Canada. Within a year the delegation forced the government to launch a Royal Commission on the Status of Women.The journalist Florence Bird who covered the story, submitted a report a hardly a(prenominal) years later, known today as the Bird Report. It consisted over 160 recommendations addressing the decreasing equality of women. While Ottawa tried to avoid these issues the womens organizations where growing. By 1972, three-hundred womens rights groups came together to form The National Action Committee for the Equality of Women (NAC). This committee saw it their duty to see that the Bird Reports recommendations were put into practice.At the end of the movement, women had greater equality within the workforce. In a recent public-opinion poll, three out of four Canadian citizens agreed that the womens movement had a positive effect on Canadian society. This time in history was a huge breakthrough for all woman, it brought about immense significant changes for the working women of Canada. The United Nations convention on the voidance of all forms of discrimination against women (CEDAW) is a treaty to eliminate violence and discrimination towards women. Canada ratified this treaty in 1981.It was a defining moment for all women of Canada because it was not only socially unacceptable for women to play the role of scapegoats, but new enforced laws wouldnt allow it. Ratifying countries, such as Canada where to condemn discrimination in all forms and ensure that legal framework, including all laws, policies and practices would provide protection against discrimination and e mbody the principle of equality. The treaty also commits ratifying nations to overcome barriers to discrimination against women in the areas of egal rights, education, employment, healthcare, politics and finance. In order to overcome these barriers Canada set up numerous new programs and institutions to help distressed women, or women seeking advice or help. In 1980, the year before Canada ratified the treaty, 90% of women reported receiving unwanted sexual attention on the job. After 1981, this statistic dropped dramatically. In addition, ratifying countries must submit a hap report to the United Nations for review. This progress report Canada must write ensures that discrimination and violence against women is minimal.Canada does not want to end up in the United Nations international court of justice. This moment in Canadian history truly helped all women overcome existing barriers towards the end of the 20th century. Over the 20th century women in Canada have struggled for equa lity. The persons case of 1928 began an atmospheric change for women. In the early 1960s the womens liberation movement carried the fight for equal rights for women, and the ratification of the treaty for rights of women in 1981 was a milestone in the fight for equality.These defining moments gave women the same political rights with the persons case, equality with the womens liberation movement, and reassurance these rights would be enforced when Canada ratified the treaty for rights of women. All throughout Canadas history womens rights have been a touchy issue. The battle for equality is still driven today by the new generation. It appears as if the battle will never be quite over, but Canadian women have been blessed that these event occurred in our history, or the women of Canada would not be anywhere close the equality we have today