Nellie McClung

A portrait of Nellie McClung (http://www.lackenbauer.ca/Hist103/pics/mcclung1.jpg)

Nellie McClung's Journey to Women's Rights

Nellie McClung was a very important leader to Manitoba because she was the one who got women the right to vote. As a young child Nellie was always questioning the fact that women had no rights. She didn’t think it was fair at all because women should have rights; they were people too. Nellie’s childhood was normal--she went to school, worked hard, and loved writing. Nellie had always dreamed of becoming a writer. Living in a family of eight there was a lot of work to do. Nellie was the youngest of the family; there was also Will, the oldest, then George, Elizabeth (Lizzie), Hannah, Jack, and then Nellie. When Nellie was eight years old, Lizzie died of pneumonia.

One event that really changed Nellie’s life was at a school picnic when they made an announcement that there was going to be a running race. Nellie knew she was fast enough to beat every boy there so she ran to the starting line. The man in charge glared at her and told her that she was a girl and could not race. Nellie didn’t like that so she started to argue but was told to sit down and be quiet. Nellie did as she was told but she wasn’t happy about it, and it was something she never forgot.

After finishing school, Nellie became a teacher in rural Manitoba. She soon met her future mother-in-law, Annie McClung, an older woman who was the person who introduced Nellie to the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), a group who were against alcohol use. Annie increased Nellie’s interest in women’s rights when Annie tried unsuccessfully in the 1890s to get signatures on a petition for women to get the right to vote. In 1896, Nellie married Annie’s son, Robert Wesley McClung. The couple had five children and in 1911 they moved to Winnipeg where Nellie McClung continued fighting for women’s rights. In her mission for women’s rights, Nellie organized many protests and petitions. She was part of a group referred to as the ‘Famous Five’ because there were four women working along with her. In January of 1914 Nellie walked through the doors of the Manitoba Legislature in Winnipeg to try to convince the government that women should vote by making a speech about her opinion. In 1916, with the help of Nellie, women of Manitoba would become the first to vote in Canada.

Nellie made a huge impact on the lives of Canadian women because she got women rights. She also got them to be considered ‘persons’. Before, there was a rule that said that only men could be in the Canadian government, because according to the law, only men were ‘persons’. After Nellie and the Famous Five went to court, both genders were considered ‘persons’ under the law. Nellie would have also made an impact on men’s lives because so many things would change; everything would be equal for men and women. Nellie also inspired a lot of people to be stronger and stand up for what they believe and what is right.

In conclusion, Nellie McClung was an important Canadian woman. Nellie got women the right to vote and the right to be in the Canadian government. She always challenged the fact that women had no rights. She was a hard worker, a teacher, and also became a writer. Nellie published many books. Nellie once said: “Women are going to form a chain, a greater sisterhood than the world has ever known.” She also said: “Women who set a low value of themselves make life hard for all women.” I think that this means that Nellie known women could work together to get things done. Nellie is still and always will be a hero to all Canadians.