Bacchi, Cleverdon and Suffrage

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer notes that Bacchi and Cleverdon take entirely different approaches to the suffrage movement in Canada yet generally reach the same conclusions. More specifically, the paper relates that while Bacchi focuses on the English-Canadian suffragists in Toronto between 1877-1918, Cleverdon's work is far more inclusive since she analyzes suffrage groups all over Canada and especially in Quebec where the suffragists achieved victory in 1940. The writer determines the arguments of each author as well as the type of evidence used to support those arguments. The two books are compared and the strengths and weaknesses of each one are discussed. Finally, recommendations are made, the main one being that these works should be used together for a localized and a national view of woman suffrage.

Outline:
Introduction
Bacchi's (1983) Study
Cleverdon's (1974) Analysis
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Bacchi belabors the point that the aims and strategies of the woman suffragist movement were developed in conjunction with many other reform groups. In the same way, secular reformers' perspective on the child was based upon a traditional concept of women's sphere, but it did succeed in certain cases in liberating women from various social constraints. Bacchi seems intent on extracting what was devised solely by the woman suffrage movement. She does admit that a major difference between temperance suffragists and secular suffragists was that the latter asked for state intervention to implement reforms such as Mothers' Pensions, compulsory schooling, and factory legislation. The secular reform movement offered the women suffragists power and recognition. The great strength of the first-wave movement, according to Bacchi consisted of its diversity. Both men and women were involved with various interests and were influence by the American women's movement. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Allen, J. (1998). Worlds of Women. Canadian Journal of History, 33(3), 504-507.
• Bacchi, C.L. (1983). Liberation Deferred? Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
• Cleverdon, C. (1974). The Woman Suffrage Movement in Canada. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
• Crichton, J. (2006). Old Stories, New Women. Canadian Literature, 191, 136-139.
• Fiamengo, J. (2001). Rediscovering our Foremothers Again: The Racial Ideas of Canada's Early Feminists, 1885-1945. Essays on Canadian Writing, 75, 85-119.

More papers on Bacchi, Cleverdon and Suffrage:

• Book Review # 134698 : "Suffrage Movement in Canada"
• Essay # 32911 : "Women's Suffrage Movement in Victorian England"
• Essay # 4398 : "Suffrage and Party Power in American History"

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