Subjective Factors
Groups and Individuals who claimed that there was a social problem that needed to be addressed or resolved.
When WWI ended in 1918, women were greatly encouraged to quit the jobs they temporarily held, when the majority of men were off serving Canada in the war, and to go back to their lives as mothers. However, women were outraged with this social injustice between the two genders in the work force. From this issue sprung well-established women's organizations, as well as strengthening specific organizations that have been already advocating for gender equality for long periods of time like the National Council of Women of Canada, also known as the NCWC. The National Council of Women of Canada was founded in 1893 and its main purpose was to bring together women organizations all across Canada to help provide a network for women to get their ideas and concerns across the country, in order to help improve the status of women. Not only did this organization look at women's financial status but they also focused on other problems that rose for women like women's suffrage and the "persons" case.
Aside from strong women's organizations fighting for women's economic rights, there were also numerous amounts of significant people who were involved such as Nellie McClung, Margaret Hyndman and Madeleine Parent. These people helped make many advances, such as fighting for factory safety legislation, and devoting themselves to help improve the conditions of the women's working class. They also struggled to allow women to be less economically dependent on men. Although it was tough, these people and these organizations fought as hard as they could to achieve equality and to advance the conditions women were facing in the working industry.
Aside from strong women's organizations fighting for women's economic rights, there were also numerous amounts of significant people who were involved such as Nellie McClung, Margaret Hyndman and Madeleine Parent. These people helped make many advances, such as fighting for factory safety legislation, and devoting themselves to help improve the conditions of the women's working class. They also struggled to allow women to be less economically dependent on men. Although it was tough, these people and these organizations fought as hard as they could to achieve equality and to advance the conditions women were facing in the working industry.
How the social problem was described by groups and individuals involved
The National Council of Women of Canada (NCWC) was formed because they recognized the problems that arose for women in having equal pay and equal opportunities in the work force. But long before this organization was even formed, women weren't satisfied with their positions and the way they were being treated in their jobs. They described it as a social injustice In 1882 there was the first major strike of women workers in Toronto. Women, specifically the shoemakers, went on strike for uniform wages, wage advances and union recognition. Women claimed that their rights to having equal pay in doing the same job and that their rights in holding some of the same jobs as men were being violated.
Not only were a great majority of women or women's organizations trying to raise awareness of this problem, but many specific individuals struggled to make a difference in women's working lives. Individuals like Nellie McClung, wrote books and articles about women's rights being disregarded. In an article in Maclean's Magazine, titled, "Can a Woman Raise a Family and Have a Career?" McClung described the lack of support women received from pursuing careers and jobs outside of their homes. There were many other significant women such as Margaret Hyndman and Madeleine Parent. Margaret Hyndman targeted the Ontario government and even drafted a bill on this issue, which helped to make the Female Employees Fair Remuneration Act become law in Ontario. This Act addressed the common practice in certain work places where women were being payed a significantly lower amount than their male counterparts, providing women with equal pay for work of equal value. Another important woman, Madeleine Parent also successfully organized Quebec cotton mill workers and had the Dominion Textile employees certified as a union, providing a great number of women with jobs. She was one of the few women who succeeded in struggling to organize themselves into the labour force.
Not only were a great majority of women or women's organizations trying to raise awareness of this problem, but many specific individuals struggled to make a difference in women's working lives. Individuals like Nellie McClung, wrote books and articles about women's rights being disregarded. In an article in Maclean's Magazine, titled, "Can a Woman Raise a Family and Have a Career?" McClung described the lack of support women received from pursuing careers and jobs outside of their homes. There were many other significant women such as Margaret Hyndman and Madeleine Parent. Margaret Hyndman targeted the Ontario government and even drafted a bill on this issue, which helped to make the Female Employees Fair Remuneration Act become law in Ontario. This Act addressed the common practice in certain work places where women were being payed a significantly lower amount than their male counterparts, providing women with equal pay for work of equal value. Another important woman, Madeleine Parent also successfully organized Quebec cotton mill workers and had the Dominion Textile employees certified as a union, providing a great number of women with jobs. She was one of the few women who succeeded in struggling to organize themselves into the labour force.
Individuals or groups who were held responsible for the social problem
There weren't specific people or organizations who were held responsible for this issue on women's economic rights but the problem was mainly due to the fact that the Canadian government, companies, and the majority of men didn't want women to be advancing in the work force. Most men believed that women should stay at home and do what they were supposed to be, mothers. It was a very prejudiced stereotype all throughout Canada that the working industry was fit solely for men. Specifically after WWII, about 80,000 women were being laid off from the industry at once, 50,000 service women received discharge papers from the armed forces and any woman who was worked as a "replacement" for a man who went to war was forced to quit the job if the man wanted it back.
Not only was this a social problem within the people, there have been many instances where politicians, the government and companies have discriminated against women in labour and work force. One politician by the name of Leslie Frost, who was the Ontario Conservative Premier, believed that equal pay legislation towards both genders would hurt the province's economy. He was not the only politician who believed such a thing. The government was also largely responsible for this gender imbalance. During WWII, women were given similar opportunities like men such as being in charge of operating coastal defence units but whatever job they were given, they were always paid less than men who did the exact same work. Then immediately after the Second World War, the government introduced several courses of action in which they strongly discouraged women from seeking employment. All nurseries that were open during the war for married women with children to work were closed and civil service hindered married women from holding positions in its ranks. These strict rules were not abolished until 1955 but by then it had already created difficulties for women.
There were also many companies who put women in a lower position. For example, in 1946, the T.E. Eaton Company employed more than 15,000 workers, in which the majority of those workers were women. Women obviously did not receive equal pay for doing the same job as men did. A married woman was paid $20 a week, single men started at $26 while married men began at $30. There were many attempts to unionize Eaton's staff as equal pay for equal work became one of the main objectives of union organizers. However, unionizing efforts failed and this was not a successful attempt. This is one of the many companies in Canada in which women have been unfairly discriminated against in terms of equal pay.
Not only was this a social problem within the people, there have been many instances where politicians, the government and companies have discriminated against women in labour and work force. One politician by the name of Leslie Frost, who was the Ontario Conservative Premier, believed that equal pay legislation towards both genders would hurt the province's economy. He was not the only politician who believed such a thing. The government was also largely responsible for this gender imbalance. During WWII, women were given similar opportunities like men such as being in charge of operating coastal defence units but whatever job they were given, they were always paid less than men who did the exact same work. Then immediately after the Second World War, the government introduced several courses of action in which they strongly discouraged women from seeking employment. All nurseries that were open during the war for married women with children to work were closed and civil service hindered married women from holding positions in its ranks. These strict rules were not abolished until 1955 but by then it had already created difficulties for women.
There were also many companies who put women in a lower position. For example, in 1946, the T.E. Eaton Company employed more than 15,000 workers, in which the majority of those workers were women. Women obviously did not receive equal pay for doing the same job as men did. A married woman was paid $20 a week, single men started at $26 while married men began at $30. There were many attempts to unionize Eaton's staff as equal pay for equal work became one of the main objectives of union organizers. However, unionizing efforts failed and this was not a successful attempt. This is one of the many companies in Canada in which women have been unfairly discriminated against in terms of equal pay.