Emily Ferguson Murphy
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Corpus Christi School
Ottawa, Ontario
Vital
Statistics:1868-1933
Field: fighter
for women's rights, social activist
Accomplishment:
Emily Murphy along with four other women; Nellie McClung, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Irene Parlby and Louise McKinney, were fighters for women's rights. They are now referred to as the "Famous Five".When an Alberta woman was given nothing when her husband decided to sell the farm, Emily was motivated to help women. She thought this was not fair so she studied the injustice of this problem. Her work was strongly supported and she pressured the Alberta government to pass the Dower Act in 1911. This law stated that the husband would have to give 1/3 of his property to his wife.
Emily organized women to stand up for themselves. She founded the "Federated Women's Institute" for rural women. Later with Nellie McClung, Emily worked to get women the right to vote. As a member of the "Famous Five", she carried the Persons Case to the Privy Council in England. On October 18, 1929 the important decision was handed down stating that women are persons qualified to become members of the Senate of Canada. This was a big accomplishment!
Why
I think she is a heroine
I think she is a heroine because she wasn't afraid to stand up for what she believed and knew was right. She dedicated her life to help women and encouraged them to stand up for themselves. So now women can vote and they are "persons" and more!
Sources:
http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/2/12/h12-305-e.html
Photo: http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/2/12/h12-305-e.html
http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/persons/case-e.html
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