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Women living as pioneers in the late 1800 s endured many difficulties. However, after accomplishing long sought after goals and overcoming tremendous obstacles, they achieved great lengths and received many honors. Women had to fight for their education, fair wages in highly respected and mostly male professions, and finally, the right to vote. Females had to work continuously in order to gain respect and achieve a level of equality between themselves and the men surrounding them. When women chose to venture into the working force, they could only attain menial jobs. Nevertheless, some women chose to go one step further.
Men working in high-class occupations such as doctors and lawyers did not favour the idea of women working alongside them. Numerous applications for colleges and universities were turned down due to the fact that the applicants were females. Many women were angered by this sexual discrimination and decided to do something about it. Brave women organized lobbyist groups and founded women-only colleges in order to prove that, they too, were worthy of an education. Female perseverance in attending medical school resulted in growing numbers on the medical scene. A few female patients realized that they preferred a female doctor since they perceived that women understood their problems much better than male doctors did.
Despite this, it was still frowned upon by men to work alongside a woman. Female lawyers were not seen in the courtrooms until one woman stepped out and dared to challenge the law. Clara Brett Martin became the first female lawyer. Through her years of schooling and hard work, she proved herself to be a worthy candidate. Surprisingly, however, she, among many others was paid less than half of what men received, even though both sexes were doing exactly the same work. This same type of sexism occurred with female teachers as well.
Even though, by 1870, at least half of all teachers were women and still, they were paid much lower wages. Female discrimination occurred for over forty years until 1918. The first Womens University enforced the Minimum Wage Act in order to protect women from low wages, bad working conditions and long hours. In addition to the other occupations women had opened doors to, there was still one final position they had to attain. During the 1890 s- 1910 s, women were uninvolved in the world of journalism. Unlike men, they were forced to overcome a sexual barrier that prevented them from writing for the newspaper.
One particular woman, Sara Jeanette Duncan took a huge risk and went for an interview at the local newspaper. There, she met with a sexist man who claimed that he had never hired a woman before and told her that he would get back to her. His furtive way of displaying female discrimination only made Duncan more determined to accomplish her goal. She had recently heard of a new invention called the typewriter which enabled you to write without a feather. Duncan attained a typewriter and learned how to type.
Soon, it was all over town that a woman had and knew how to use a typewriter. The narrow-minded man she had applied to called her back and hired her immediately. Eventually more women started writing for the newspaper. They wrote articles, which included subjects such as love and relationship advice, cooking tips and recipes, sewing pointers and information on the newest fashions. Once women began writing for the paper, something that was once irrelevant to women now contained subjects that were a section of interest. Duncan's determination motivated other women to obtain formally male jobs.
One female journalist stated that I am glad that we live in a world where there are so many things wanting to be done that we [women] have no time to sit down and feel sorry for ourselves; when humanity is seething and boiling with a thousand interests which in the end will work themselves out for the final good of the race. And we women have just begun to dabble with our fingertips in this great eddying stream of life (Horizon Canada, [Women of the Pen], Gillian Rutherford, 1987). In order to survive in a working environment dominated by men, women had to outwit and outsmart men. Even though women had won the victory over a sexist working environment and received the fair pay they deserved, women still had one more battle to fight. Although years before men had to fight for responsible government and permission to vote in federal elections, women endured the same issue for years to follow. Even though women wanted to vote, they were not permitted to.
Feminists induced lobbyist groups and unions in order to gain suffrage. Arguers disputed the statement, which described the qualities of persons that were able to vote. It read any civilized person twenty-one years of age or older and a resident of the Dominion of Canada shall be permitted to cast a legal vote Women began to ask the question Are women persons? and men started to change their bias opinions. Debates and discussions were most prevalent in Manitoba, partially because of Nellie Mclung. A famous pioneer who once stated I have never desired the approval or even tolerance of the people whose interests run contrary to the public good, the people who believe if they are happy and prosperous, all's well with the world. (Internet Explorer, Cam Williams, 2000) Therefore women were granted suffrage in 1917, followed by Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Women in Nova Scotia, P. E. I and New were granted their rights in 1918, 1919 and 1922. The last province to grant suffrage was Quebec, in 1940. However, ethnic women were forced to wait until 1947 and 1952 to vote in federal and provincial elections. Finally, without the courageous and determined pioneers of yesterday, women wouldnt even has as much power as it stands now.
Probably because women were so compassionate, it took them longer to receive the same rights as men. Women are now free to vote, voice their opinions and choose their occupations. Thankfully, there were females strong enough to fight in a world dominated of ignorant man, and still were able to form an equal, powerful and successful nation.
Free research essays on topics related to: women began, working environment, order to gain, suffrage, typewriter
Research essay sample on Order To Gain Working Environment
