“Agnes, you can’t be serious!”
Agnes glared at him. “Why ever not?” she demanded.
“Well—“
“It’s because I’m a woman, isn’t it? You don’t believe that anyone would vote for me because I’m a woman. Well, I’ll prove you wrong.”
And she did. Despite resistance and ridicule, in the 1921 federal general election, Agnes became the first woman ever to be elected to the House of Commons. “I owed it to my father that I was elected to Parliament in the first place, but I owed it to my mother that I stuck it out once I got there.”
100 Words
The above is an imagined conversation between Agnes Macphail and a male acquaintance. She was the first woman to be elected to the Canadian House of Commons and the first woman elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
This post is for the Friday’s Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. You can find this week’s prompt here. To read other stories or to participate, click here.
Sources: Library and Archives Canada; Brainy Quote
They had a fascinating exposition at a park nearby here, of posters from the 1930s about women’s rights to votes….that is Switzerland. Reading the posters, the arguments against, and the obvious arguments for, was an experience…J was struck by how often the church was used as an argument against….
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She inherited some good traits from her parents. I admire this historical figure for not giving in or up.
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Yes, she did. I admire people who refuse to give up their dreams despite opposition or the odds.
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I like the way you use the prompt to tell us about a significant person in women’s emancipation. You’ve dramatized your story well.
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Thank you 🙂 When I saw the prompt, my first thought was to write about a female politician. I thought I would throw in an imaginary conversation there to represent the opposition she faced.
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Dear Adele,
Go Agnes! Nice piece of historical fiction.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Yes, go Agnes. I enjoy writing about historical figures and their remarkable contributions to society.
Shalom,
Adele
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Great moments in history :). I love this kind of story, with a real heroine and a real conflict.
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I enjoy writing about real heroines, Linda. I’m happy I had the opportunity to write about this one 🙂
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A great blend of fact and fiction about a determined and inspirational figure.
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Thanks, Keith 🙂
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Great history lesson.
Your story enticed me to read more, and I saw this: “And be in (sic) known unto Britain, even American daughters are Politicians and Patriots, and will aid the good work with their female efforts.” (Hannah Winthrop to Mercy Ottis Warren, January 1, 1774). That was literally 125 before the 19th amendment to the US Constitution was ratified in 1920. Never give up.
After all, why should women be denied access to the metaphorical second level? 🙂
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Thanks, Bill 🙂 I particularly like prompts which enable me to write about historical figures. Women shouldn’t be denied equality in politics or any other areas of interest. I like what Hannah said to Mercy. Women need support not only from one another but from society on a whole. And, they must never give up.
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what an inspiring story. well done.
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Thanks, Plaridel 🙂
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