Women in the 1920sWomen in the 1920s

Women in the HomeWomen in the Home

Women were Women were mainly seen as mainly seen as homemakers.homemakers.

Girls’ education Girls’ education was aimed at was aimed at preparing them for preparing them for marriage and marriage and motherhood.motherhood.

Women in the WorkforceWomen in the Workforce Women worked until Women worked until

they were married, if they were married, if at all.at all.

Women held Women held traditional jobs such as traditional jobs such as secretaries, teachers, secretaries, teachers, and nurses.and nurses.

They earned just over They earned just over $8 a week working 55 $8 a week working 55 hours.hours.

They earned 54-60% of They earned 54-60% of what men did.what men did.

Women in SportsWomen in Sports Growing numbers Growing numbers

of women became of women became involved in involved in physical activities physical activities and physical and physical sports.sports.

Edmonton GradsEdmonton Grads – – women’s women’s basketball team basketball team who won 502 of who won 502 of 522 games.522 games.

Women in PoliticsWomen in Politics 1921 – Agnes MacPhail became the 1921 – Agnes MacPhail became the

first female Member of Parliament.first female Member of Parliament. Women were denied all sorts of Women were denied all sorts of

rights and privileges. (i.e. equal pay rights and privileges. (i.e. equal pay for equal work, the vote in some for equal work, the vote in some provincial elections)provincial elections)

1929 - The Famous Five was a group 1929 - The Famous Five was a group of women from Alberta who fought of women from Alberta who fought for the right to have women for the right to have women appointed to the Senate (pass bills, appointed to the Senate (pass bills, change laws). This was known as change laws). This was known as the Persons Case.the Persons Case.

Agnes MacPhail

- first female Member

Of Parliament The Famous Five

The Persons CaseThe Persons Case At the time, the legal definition At the time, the legal definition

of “persons" under the British of “persons" under the British North America (BNA) Act did not North America (BNA) Act did not include women. include women.

The Famous Five fought this all The Famous Five fought this all the way to the highest court in the way to the highest court in England and got it reversed.England and got it reversed.

How would this impact the lives How would this impact the lives of women? of women?

Flapper girlsFlapper girls Young girls (18-25) began to change Young girls (18-25) began to change

from the traditional role of womenfrom the traditional role of women

They cut their hair short, wore short They cut their hair short, wore short and loose clothing, wore ‘bell hats’, and loose clothing, wore ‘bell hats’, smoke and drank and stayed out latesmoke and drank and stayed out late

Women began to act more and more Women began to act more and more like the men of their own agelike the men of their own age

Flapper girls were considered ‘non-Flapper girls were considered ‘non-conformists’ because they rebelled conformists’ because they rebelled against how society perceived they against how society perceived they should be.should be.

Older generations worried that these Older generations worried that these young women would not settle down young women would not settle down and find husbands and start familiesand find husbands and start families

Flapper girls liked to hang out in jazz Flapper girls liked to hang out in jazz clubs and swing dance clubs and swing dance

Zoot suitZoot suit