The Catalyst of Human Rights

The first wave of feminism began in the turn of the century and ended when the great depression began. The first major step to equalize human rights between both sexes was giving women the right to vote. “In 1916 – Women won the right to vote provincially in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.” During the First World War, women served as nurses behind the front lines or cared for children back at home. The Second World War came around in 1939 and allowed women to join the military force. “By the end of the war, Canadian women in uniform numbered 50,000 and another 4500 women were in the medical services.” Women also stayed at home and worked jobs that were formally known as “men jobs”. After WWII, men were given their jobs back and women went back to traditional roles. The second wave of feminism which started in 1960 and they fought for: birth control (the pill), equal pay legislation, paid maternity leave, removal of glass ceilings, and changing abortion laws.