History
The story of the Famous 5 and their challenge of The 'Persons' Case is a case study in transformational leadership.
It tells about five ordinary women, born in the mid-nineteenth century, who joined the trek west with their families to frontier Canada. Each had a history of advocacy on behalf of women and children. All were prominent suffragists. When they arrived in Alberta, each had already had significant victories in her own particular areas of activism.
They arrived on fertile soil where grassroots reform movements flourished. The women of the frontier who had arrived before them had contributed their own labour to building homesteads alongside their husbands. The Famous 5 extended this pioneer spirit, taking female influence further, into a larger sphere of community and politics.
In the face of prejudice and opposition, they built alliances with other women's organizations and brilliantly communicated their vision for a society where women could participate in public service equally with men. They refused to take no for an answer - even when turned down by the Supreme Court of Canada!
Pink Teas
When women were campaigning to receive the vote in the early 1900s, their suffrage meetings were frequently disrupted by opponents. Many women were forbidden by their husbands or fathers to attend these meetings, and others simply did not have the confidence to do so because of the strong opposition.
Pink Teas were developed as a way for women to gather and discuss issues of importance including suffrage. Only women were invited, and frilly decorations and many pink doilies festooned the tea tables. If opposition appeared, the women simply changed the subject to the bland pleasantries one might expect at a regular tea gathering.
As a result, the opposition, who were usually men, felt uncomfortable attending these teas. They avoided interfering in order to avoid embarrassment. The women felt less threatened, and good-hearted men who had genuinely feared for the safety of their wives at political meetings were more comfortable about their loved ones attending a Pink Tea.
Host Your Own Pink Tea
We encourage teachers and students to host a Pink Tea in celebration of their Famous 5 studies. Invite parents and other community guests to join you for an afternoon tea and a "conversation of consequence". Everyone can share their views on an issue that challenges their community. This is an excellent opportunity for students to use the knowledge they have gained, and use critical thinking skills in a debate about issues of importance.
To add to this special occasion, students might also dress in period costumes with old-fashioned hats, and present the Readers' Theatre performance.
