History of Gender Roles in Canada Essay Example

Canada experienced many changes between 1945-1981. Gender roles began to be challenged in the 1950’s and women’s rights took a significant move in a positive direction and traditional roles changed. The great flag debate that began in 1963 and ended in 1965 with the flag of Canada that we know of today being hoisted up for the first time symbolized a new Canada , a united Canada .The Canada we could have achieved went to a halt , with Trudeau proposing the white paper in 1969 , which interfered with Trudeau’s idea of a “just society”. The events that occurred between 1945-1981 helped Canadians come closer to achieving the Canada that they wanted, although it was not fully achieved during this time.

Post -WWII the evolution of gender roles became more apparent and significant and traditional gender roles were re-established during the 1950s.The status of women began to change in society and the workforce, women were able to get jobs that were traditionally held by men and receive higher education. By 1960 the women's movement decided to address the question of how gender equality could be achieved. In 1967 The Royal Commission on the status of women was established. To have gender equality you need to change the legal system first. Many laws had been previously placed that prevented women from coming anywhere near gender equality. Finally in 1970 women got the long-awaited chance to address several significant gender-related critical issues in the legislative system.

These issues included family laws, equal pay, birth control, maternity leave, and conditions for indigenous women. Birth control and maternity leave were both issues that hinder women from working and keeping a job as a whole. Women could be fired if they got pregnant and a simple alternative such as maternity leave was simply not in question. While there is no denying that issues of equality for women had been addressed, not all of them had been addressed. Women still experience high rates of gender-based violence and a small number of women hold management roles in the workforce. Gender equality progressed greatly during this time and Canadians made a huge step to creating the Canada that they wanted but there are still more steps that need to be taken. 

The great flag debate was an event that was extremely beneficial in making Canada the Canada we know today. The decision to give Canadians a new flag was far from easy but Lester Pearson’s determination is what made it possible. This debate led to many arguments, opposing ideas, and divisions contrary to the great flag debate’s purpose of wanting to unite all Canadians. One historian, Rick Archbold, called the debate "one of the ugliest in the House of Commons history".

 All odds were against Pearson, and former minister John Diefenbaker did not shy away from his opposition to Pearson’s proposal. Diefenbaker argued that the new flag would not honour Canada’s past and former British ties and loyalties as an ex-colony. Diefenbaker’s argument was exactly what Pierson was trying to counter; the Union Jack had a lot of British influence and Canada was no longer a British colony. However, Canada was its own country completely free from being tied solely as a British colony. Pearson took the next step, the design of the new flag. The controversy was high over the new flag’s design and not all Canadians supported it. A Gallup poll from August 1964 found that 48 percent supported the Pearson pennant, with 41 percent opposed. George Stanley, an eminent historian and one-time lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick designed the flag with Pearson's suggestions. The new flag of Canada was hoisted in 1965, featuring a big red maple leaf, a distinctive symbol of Canada. The great flag debate led Canadians into a new era with a flag that solidified Canadian identity. Canada went from being a timid colony to a nation standing forever. The founding of Canada’s official flag led Canadians in the direction of creating the Canada that Canadians wanted.

Canada’s relationship with the first nation people was in turmoil since the Canadian government failed to respect their identity. Trudeau's decisions disregarded the identities of first nations. Trudeau promised Canadian citizen’s a just society but did the exact opposite. Trudeau said in his just society quote “ Indian and Inuit populations will be encouraged to assure the full rights of citizenship “. His idea of what assured their rights of citizenship went completely against everything first nation people had been fighting for. Trudeau introduced The White paper in 1969 in an attempt to erase the Indian act and have Canadians join mainstream Canadian citizenship. The white paper eliminated first nations of their Indian status and assimilated them as just “ Canadian''. The White paper came as a complete shock to first nation people as they had not been consulted, something that Trudeau wanted. In 1970 Indigenous people responded to The White paper with The Red paper. Trudeau received backlash and withdrew The White paper and angrily stated “We’ll keep them in the ghetto as long as they want.” The White paper set us back from creating the Canada that Canadians wanted and is something that should be looked upon with shame and push Canadians to mature. 

In conclusion, Canadians made huge progress in creating the Canada that they wanted although they were not able to fully achieve it by 1981. The progression of gender equality and women’s rights helped push us in the right direction. The great flag debate granted us a new sense of independence and a new Canadian identity. Trudeau’s decision to propose the white paper did not help Canadians in creating the Canada that they wanted , it was a setback and an event to look back on and learn from.