Nellie McClung

Proud Canadian, Nellie McClung (http://www.mta.ca/faculty/arts/canadian_studies/english/ about/study_guide/graphics/women/nellie_mcclung.jpg)

A hero is a person distinguished by exceptional courage, nobility and strength. Nellie McClung (1873-1951), was a famous feminist leader who got women to vote after World War II. She had the determination to succeed in her path. She was a hard working, capable woman, whose accomplishments have opened doors for others. "Women are going to form a chain, a greater sisterhood than the world has ever known." (Nellie McClung, 1916) (http://library.usask.ca/herstory/nellie.html)

Lecturer, writer and women's rights activist (www.canuck.com/famous5/ assets/images/Mcclung2.JPG)

Nellie Letitia Mooney was born to John Mooney and Letitia McCurdy on October 20, 1873 in Chatsworth, Ontario. She was the youngest of six children of an Irish immigrant. Nellie grew up to become an author, a lecturer and a women's rights activist. She fought for women to have the right to vote. She also got the Power Act Factory Safety Legislation Old Age Pensions Public Health Nursing Services. Mrs. McClung was proud of her accomplishments. She stated: "The Woman Movement; which has been scoffed and jeered at and misunderstood most of all by the people whom it is designed to help, is a spiritual revival of the best instincts of womanhood -- the instincts to serve and help the race --." (Nellie McClung, 1915) (http://library.usask.ca/herstory/nellie.html)

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Mrs. McClung had many great qualities. She was unselfish, trustworthy, had great courage, was honest and was a dynamic speaker with great morals. She was truly amazing! She didn't think only of herself but of other woman as well. Many people trusted her and joined her and she had confidence in them, too. She never gave up on her goals or on those around her, and always expressed herself fully and comprehensibly. "For generations women have been thinking and though with expression is dynamic and gathers volume by repression. Evolution when blocked and suppressed becomes revolution." (Nellie McClung, 1915) (http://library.usask.ca/herstory/nellie.html)

Writer of many books (http://library.usask.ca/herstory/nellie2.jpg)

She was very interested in politics. Mrs. McClung always thought that it would be nice if everyone had the right to vote. As a young woman, she became involved in social reform, which was especially concerned with social and health problems. She also fought many other social problems facing women and children. She campaigned for women’s right to vote in many parts of the country. Mr. Roblin, who was prime minister at the time, strongly opposed giving women the right to vote and Nellie McClung, with her fellow reformers, wanted to defeat him. They put on a play called "The Women’s Parliament", a satire which turned the tables and poked fun at the danger of giving men the right to vote.

The next year, the suffragists helped to defeat him and the new Liberal government gave the vote to women in Manitoba. She was also elected as a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly, where she fought for mother’s allowances, public health nursing, free medical and dental care for children, liberalised birth control, divorce laws, and improved property rights for married woman. "The whole race is suffering from masculinity and man and women are alike to blame for tolerating it" (Nellie McClung, 1915) (http://library.usask.ca/herstory/nellie.html)

Mrs. McClung will always be remembered (http://www.famous5.org/images/stamp.jpg)

I think she was a proud Canadian who dedicated her time to women in order for them to vote. I fully agree that she made the great decision by accepting a big task like that. Women have every right, just like men, to decide what is best for humanity. It is true that women can do anything from one side to an other. She died September 1, 1951 at the age of 77 but will always be remembered as a person who opened doors for Canadian women. "Never retreat, never explain, never apologize – get the thing done and let them howl–." (Nellie McClung) (http://library.usask.ca/herstory/nellie.html)