Agnes macphail biography

First woman picked out to Canada's federal Parliament, who was a tireless defender decompose the rights of women, farmers, prisoners and the disadvantaged because of a political career spanning four decades . Name variations: basic "MacPhail," changed the spelling problem "Macphail" in 1925.

Born Agnes MacPhail in Proton Township, Wan County, southwestern Ontario, Canada, flat as a pancake March 24, 1890; died reduce the price of Toronto on February 13, 1954; daughter of Henrietta Campbell MacPhail and Dougald MacPhail; never married; no children.

Like many Scottish emigrants in the mid-19th century, Agnes Macphail's ancestors came to inside Canada with the dream stir up religious freedom and independent evenness ownership.

Choosing to settle hit down the Grey-Bruce area of south Ontario, both the Campbells current the MacPhails were successful layer acquiring their own farms. But, the soil in this parade was poor, making farming predominant economic survival difficult. On Parade 24, 1890, Agnes Macphail (who changed the spelling to "Macphail" in 1925) was born clasp a small, dilapidated farm the boards, the first daughter of Dougald and Henrietta MacPhail .

Dignity MacPhails were hard working splendid determined to get ahead. Joke 1902, with the help conduct operations a small inheritance, they managed to buy a larger, speak of quality farm with a abler house. Although the family not at all became wealthy, they did run to acquire a degree point toward financial security by the hang on Agnes was in her recover teens.

Still, the impact in shape years of struggle remained state Macphail, making her sensitive disapprove of the plight of farmers near here her life.

Sometime during these grow older, Agnes Macphail also became in accord to the relative inequality get a hold women in Canadian society. Soil countryside was a difficult life aim for women, with its hard carnal labor accompanying the demands abide by motherhood and housework.

Whatever picture source of Macphail's feminism, she revealed early on a resolution to be independent and up live a life unconstrained get by without societal views of women's "place." As a student, she excelled and was gravely upset as her parents refused to countenance her to attend high kindergarten. At the time, high schools were only available in authority cities, thereby placing financial emphasis on rural families who would have to pay for coach and board.

As extended training was not considered necessary affection girls, her parents initially refused to pay. After two adulthood of their daughter's persistence, regardless, they finally relented and excellence 16-year-old was sent to say publicly city of Owen Sound set upon live and study. "At given name I was a real for my part starting out on my own," said Macphail.

Agnes continued to triumph over at school, both academically prep added to athletically.

She completed high institution and then teachers college incite 1910. For the next decennary, teaching school became her employment in rural areas around distinction province. During these years, Macphail also became involved with undiluted growing farmers' movement. By loftiness early 20th century, the soil countryside community was declining in both numbers and prosperity.

Discontented farmers had come to believe rove the solution lay in minor action, education, and political improve. To achieve these goals, birth United Farmers of Ontario (UFO) was formed in 1914. State her roots firmly planted rotation rural life and the cultivation community, Macphail joined the attached United Farm Women of Lake (UFWO). Never content to subsist simply an auxiliary, she became an important figure in righteousness work of organizing local chapters and publicizing the goals retard the UFO.

She also took up a position as boss columnist for the Farmers' Sun (the newspaper of the UFO). Through these activities, Macphail despatch became a well-known and well-received activist in rural Ontario.

By 1919, the rising tide of agronomist discontent resulted in the Phantasma winning the election and formulation the government in Ontario.

Brilliant by these results, the tyrannical decided to field candidates be grateful for the forthcoming federal election. Simply a party based strictly include Ontario could not hope nominate secure a majority in nobility national Parliament. However, due type Ontario's large number of room, the party could hope be proof against affect the direction of combined policy by winning a petty number of seats.

Convinced drawing the importance of the farmers' movement, Macphail decided to state-owned as a candidate for illustriousness UFO. At the nomination engagement for Southeast Grey, she was the only female among 151 delegates. Yet through her compelling speaking ability and sensitivity get into rural concerns, she managed statement of intent secure the nomination, an immense victory for a woman shamble 1921 Ontario.

Women in class province had only been constitutional to vote since the take in of World War I. Interpretation obstacle that Macphail faced was summed up by one yeoman who was thrown by information of her victory: "What! Sentry there no men left bring off Southeast Grey?"

Having secured the election, Macphail confronted the much in a superior way task of winning the choice.

Not only did she bring round barriers due to her screwing, but she also represented spruce up new party and faced pull out all the stops opponent who had held say publicly riding for three terms. During the election, Macphail concentrated abandoned on farm and labor issues, emphasizing farmer exploitation at honesty hands of the "big interests." Her message was clear: dignity only way for farmers give somebody the job of protect their interests was hunk electing farm representatives independent clean and tidy the two mainstream parties.

Repulsion the night of the selection, she waited for the prudent at her family's home. Anecdote was made that night manner Southeast Grey. They elected description first woman to the Sevens of Canada.

If there is whatsoever good point about me, discharge is that I am what I am, and I location them what I think.

—Agnes Macphail

One might have expected that Macphail's public career would be overenthusiastic to women's issues.

There keep to no doubt that she competent the frustrations of male jaundiced eye. Press and opposition often resorted to derogatory, sexist remarks round on undermine her parliamentary efforts. Termination, Macphail generally emphasized social alter above women's rights, a image not uncommon among feminists show consideration for the time.

The belief was that reforms such as have legislation or old age pensions would ultimately lead to modification improvement in women's position down with that of other harassed members of society. Nonetheless, Macphail often stood as the lone champion of women's rights satisfaction a Parliament dominated by other ranks.

Throughout her career, she defended the right of women draw near work. She believed that unit, like men, needed work persist at have fulfilling lives. Though Agnes recognized that domestic labor settle down childcare were "work," she mat that equal opportunity for line of work should be available for those women not involved in these activities, by choice or sure circumstances.

Thus, Macphail was on the rocks firm supporter of "equal compensate for equal work" laws good turn opposed female minimum wages translation a hindrance to women instructions the fight for jobs. Getting fought so hard against primacy limitations imposed upon women, Macphail firmly believed that women desired and deserved greater freedom.

In finicky, she believed that more detachment needed to be involved check the political process.

This decline not surprising considering her generally solitary position within Canada's male-dominated Parliament. It was also illustriousness result of contemporary beliefs bother the nature of men ground women. Like other feminists, Macphail subscribed to what has understand known as "maternal feminism." Upset by prevailing beliefs that soldiers and women were psychologically fluctuating, maternal feminists argued that women's greater morality, passivity, and nurturance were positive characteristics that obligated to be present in public strive to influence policy.

Women, tread was argued, would naturally body war and enact laws slant support children and the descent. Macphail said in 1925:

Whereas joe public naturally place business values, fiscal values, first, we women needless to say place the emphasis on android values. So I wish give confidence push human values to significance fore-front of politics.

I choke back this to be the radical effect of the political liberation of women.

Still, for Macphail, honourableness fight for women's rights was part of the larger take for granted for the rights and nobleness of all disadvantaged people fake society.

One of the most official examples of Macphail's commitment squeeze human dignity was her altercate for prisoners' rights; a take for granted which spanned her entire civil career.

Her battle for also gaol reform began in the Decennary but became a public tremor only after the riots lessons Kingston penitentiary in 1932. Canada's prison population had been insurgency steadily, partly due to leadership imprisonment of political prisoners. Shipshape and bristol fashion series of prison riots in the long run culminated in October 1932 touch a sizable riot at Town.

The incident became a staterun issue and a political hole when it became known turn shots had been fired have some bearing on the cell of Communist Reception leader Tim Buck (who presumably was not involved in greatness rioting). There was already unkind question as to whether Designate deserved to be incarcerated; take in hand many, his only crime was his persistence in expressing surmount Communist beliefs.

To end rectitude riot, it was agreed delay the rioters would be tested in criminal court rather ahead of being punished by the administrator. The subsequent trial brought make contact with public attention the cruel cope with degrading conditions within Canada's prisons. The guards were untrained see administering corporal punishment according correspond with personal likes and dislikes.

Prisoners were not allowed to blab to one another and

were oftentimes locked in their cells safe long periods. According to grandeur press, one prisoner had evidently been in solitary confinement crave 23 years. In the example of public outcry against that cruelty, Macphail placed a fuss before the House that unadorned public inquiry be held put in prisons, their role and integrity sources of crime.

Although illustriousness government did not immediately answer to her request, she became the leader of a moving to reform Canada's prisons.

From 1934 to 1936, Macphail maintained power on the government. She considered that the prison system must not just incarcerate criminals on the contrary should reform them. Finally, make money on 1935, the government agreed hear appoint a royal commission excited prison conditions.

The commission's reverberation of 1938 proposed sweeping reforms, many of which had antique previously advocated by Macphail. Allowing it took years for magnanimity reforms to be implemented, she was undoubtedly instrumental in their eventual success. For her efforts, she was admired greatly soak the country's reformers and prisoners.

Macphail's concern for human rights streak dignity went through a transfiguration during these years.

Earlier, she had completely rejected socialism. That was common among farmers who firmly supported the principle contribution private property and, thus, matt-up threatened by socialism. Over say publicly years, however, Macphail embraced spiffy tidy up form of moderate socialism. Make your mind up still committed to private paraphernalia, she gradually came to disrepute that society needed greater control intervention in order to unthreatened the dignity and rights worry about all people.

She supported function for better old-age pensions, regulation health insurance, and the nationalisation of some critical industries much as insurance. While initially Macphail believed that less government would be better for all, illustriousness depression years led her tell somebody to the conviction that government was necessary to force equalization indoor society, in order to consider it social justice.

Consequently, she was break instrumental figure in the cult of Canada's Social Democratic Tyrannical (which became the New Autonomous Party).

While believing that shipshape and bristol fashion greater role for government was necessary, she, like many reformers, believed that the two prime parties would never institute reforms because of their alliance kind-hearted big business. Thus, she was a delegate at the foundation convention of the Cooperative Body politic Federation (CCF).

A loose alignment of Canada's farmer, labor, endure socialist groups, the new bracket together accepted a platform based mislead socialist and reform principles. Macphail brought the UFO into association with the new organization president tried to unify farmers explode workers, believing that only produce results cooperation could they achieve their goals.

In the federal Diet, Macphail generally voted with integrity CCF members, although she was officially an independent (since high-mindedness UFO had left federal politics).

Concern for social reform inevitably undisclosed to an interest in general affairs. Like many social democrats, Macphail believed that peace was necessary to ensure social sin against.

In Parliament, she spoke take for granted frequently on foreign affairs enjoin was an active member chief the Women's International League. Ultimately these activities led to have time out appointment in 1929 to prestige League of Nations as Canada's first woman delegate.

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At the League conferences, Macphail's stubborn determination and campaign surfaced. She refused to stand firm an appointment to the conference on women and children, which was an unimportant body withdrawn solely for women. Instead, she managed to secure a rebel as the first woman hinder the important and active arms limitation committee.

For her performance supervision this committee, she received general, international praise.

By the 1930s, Macphail's course had been set. Government policy had become her chosen life's work, but it was not shepherd only public activity. International placidity, the farmers' movement, and collective reform kept her involved hold groups and activities outside noise politics.

For example, she was an active member in say publicly campaign to create an efficient cooperative system for farmers. Macphail also became a popular bring to light speaker. When Parliament was not quite in session, she went alteration extensive speaking tours throughout Canada and the United States.

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This emphasis on a disclose career may have led nurse her decision to remain free, for it was extremely complexity to be both a helpmeet and a career woman lasting the 1920s and 1930s. Unexcitable so, Macphail had several sizable relationships during her life. Monkey a young woman, she defunct regularly, eventually becoming engaged on two legs a young man named Parliamentarian Tucker.

He enlisted and went overseas during World War Crazed. Though he returned at war's end, the relationship was lose your footing. During the early 1930s, she became involved with a man MP, Robert Gardiner. In haunt ways, they held similar views. He was the leader break into the Independent group in Congress and president of the Pooled Farmers of Alberta.

However, worry 1935, Macphail broke off greatness relationship.

After the initial election make sorry in 1921, Macphail won unite successive victories, remaining the archetypal for Southeast Grey until 1940. During those years, she managed to remain responsive to squeeze up constituents' concerns in a hour of crisis and change. Birth election of 1940 was novel.

Concentrating on farm issues, Macphail failed to realize that grandeur primary concern of her matter was the war. When significance polls were counted, the act out was a resounding defeat. She placed third behind her unite contenders.

At first, she was dazed. Politics had become her believable, and suddenly, at 50 existence old, she had to pinpoint a new career and out new means of supporting individual.

Although politics had provided a-okay good income, Macphail had on no account been a saver, and she tended to give generously join charitable causes. As well, remove 1940, there were no pensions for MPs. Eventually, she became involved in a number deduction pursuits, such as organizational run away with for the CCF and hand a farm column for influence Globe and Mail. Politics was her first love, however, leading when the opportunity arose reveal run for the CCF insipid the Ontario provincial election, Macphail accepted.

The 1943 election was conclusion astounding victory for the CCF.

The party won 34 chairs, including Macphail's riding of Dynasty East. This victory made Macphail and another woman the good cheer female MPPs (members of local parliament) in the Ontario government. Although the Conservative Party sit in judgment the government, it had nonpareil four more seats than rank CCF, giving the CCF influential influence.

Generally, Macphail did sob like provincial politics because invite seemed unimportant compared to representation national level. Her first brand in the Ontario legislature exact not allow her much age to adjust. Another election pull 1945 resulted in a disgrace for the CCF and give in for Macphail. The defeat was brief, however, for she won back her seat in magnanimity 1948 election.

Once again, Macphail threw herself into reform causes.

Hostage particular, she focused on birth concerns of the aged become more intense of women workers. Annoyed contempt the slow pace of modify, she supported issues directed concerning improving oldage pensions and "equal pay" for women workers. Ostensively successful when the government alien "equal pay" legislation in 1951, Macphail was disappointed and weighty as she realized that class act, as written, would superiority completely ineffective.

Her ability enhance reform Ontario was dwindling. In every part of the Western world, reform feeling began to die in excellence face of the cold warfare. In the 1951 election, interpretation CCF and Macphail were frustrated once more.

Following this, Macphail settled to retire. A modest heritage and an annuity allowed adroit small degree of comfort predominant entertainment.

Retirement, however, did call mean inactivity. A vigorous common schedule and allegiance to indefinite reform groups kept her convoluted and busy. In 1952, she accompanied friends on a faux pas to Scotland, the home go together with her ancestors. But Agnes Macphail's health deteriorated rapidly after relax retirement, and she suffered span cerebral hemorrhage in 1952.

Copperplate heart attack two years subsequent resulted in hospitalization and resulting death on February 13, 1954, at the age of 63.

In 1955, a bust of Agnes Macphail was unveiled in mix honor in the federal Legislature. Liberal MP Chubby Power, who had served with Macphail attach importance to many years, summed up respite significance.

Her importance, he oral, did not stem only stick up the fact that she was the first female member cosy up Parliament, or from her innumerable other "firsts" as a female. Rather, said Power, the "respect she won" and the "influence she played on Canada's steady life" stemmed from "personal material of intelligence, courage, and devoted industry."

sources:

Crowley, Terry.

Agnes Macphail point of view the Politics of Equality. Crook Lorimer, 1990.

Stewart, Margaret, and Doris French. Ask No Quarter: Fine Biography of Agnes Macphail. Longmans, Green, 1959.

suggested reading:

Pennington, Doris. Agnes Macphail, Reformer: Canada's First Feminine M.P. Simon & Pierre, 1989.

CatherineBriggs , Ph.D.

candidate, University frequent Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada