Canadian Studies · Grade 10 · Women's Rights & Social Change · Term 3

Second-Wave Feminism & Reproductive Rights

The Royal Commission on the Status of Women and the fight for reproductive rights.

• Ontario Curriculum Expectations
• ON: Canada, 1945–1982 - Grade 10
• ON: Social, Economic, and Political Context - Grade 10

About This Topic

Second-wave feminism in Canada marked a push for equality in work, family, and reproductive rights during the 1960s to 1980s. The 1970 Royal Commission on the Status of Women documented barriers such as wage gaps, lack of daycare, and restricted abortion access, issuing 167 recommendations that influenced policies like maternity leave and family allowances. Students connect these to the birth control pill, which gave women control over reproduction, and the Morgentaler case, where Dr. Henry Morgentaler's challenges led to the 1988 Supreme Court ruling striking down abortion laws.

This topic aligns with Ontario Grade 10 Canadian Studies expectations for social, economic, and political contexts from 1945 to 1982. Key skills include analyzing primary sources like commission reports and court decisions, and comparing second-wave goals of systemic change with first-wave focus on suffrage and legal rights. These activities build historical thinking by examining continuity and change in women's movements.

Active learning benefits this topic because personal narratives and debates make rights struggles relatable. When students role-play testimonies or analyze artifacts in groups, they practice evidence-based arguments, develop empathy for diverse perspectives, and retain complex social histories through collaboration.

Key Questions

1. Explain the key recommendations of the 1970 Royal Commission on the Status of Women.
2. Analyze how the introduction of 'the pill' and the Morgentaler case transformed women's lives.
3. Compare the goals of second-wave feminism with earlier women's movements in Canada.

Learning Objectives

• Explain the key recommendations of the 1970 Royal Commission on the Status of Women and their impact on Canadian policy.
• Analyze the social and legal impact of the introduction of 'the pill' and the Morgentaler case on women's reproductive autonomy.
• Compare and contrast the primary goals and strategies of second-wave feminism with those of earlier women's movements in Canada.
• Evaluate the significance of the Royal Commission and reproductive rights advancements within the broader context of Canadian social change from 1945-1982.

Before You Start

Early Women's Movements in Canada (e.g., Suffrage Movement)

Why: Students need to understand the foundational goals and achievements of earlier feminist movements to effectively compare them with second-wave feminism.

Canadian Social History: Post-WWII Era (1945-1960)

Why: Background knowledge of the social and economic conditions in Canada following World War II provides context for the emergence of second-wave feminism and its demands.

Key Vocabulary

Royal Commission on the Status of Women	A government-appointed body established in Canada in 1967 to investigate the status of women and recommend ways to ensure equality.
Reproductive Rights	The concept that individuals have the right to make decisions about their reproductive health, including access to contraception and abortion.
Contraception	Methods or devices used to prevent pregnancy, such as birth control pills or IUDs.
Feminism	The advocacy of women's rights on the ground of the equality of the sexes, particularly concerning social, economic, and political rights.
Social Change	Significant alterations in social structures, cultural norms, and patterns of behavior over time.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Second-wave feminism focused only on abortion rights.

What to Teach Instead

It addressed broad issues like equal pay, daycare, and education access as per the Royal Commission. Group jigsaws on recommendations reveal this scope, helping students map interconnected goals through shared teaching.

Common Misconception

The birth control pill immediately ended all reproductive barriers.

What to Teach Instead

Access remained limited by cost and stigma until legal changes like Morgentaler. Timeline activities show gradual progress, with peer discussions correcting timelines to reflect real timelines and court battles.

Common Misconception

Second-wave achieved complete equality compared to first-wave.

What to Teach Instead

It built on suffrage with deeper systemic demands, but gaps persist. Comparison charts in pairs highlight evolutions, fostering nuanced views via evidence sharing.

Active Learning Ideas

Jigsaw: Commission Recommendations

Divide class into expert groups, each assigned one key recommendation from the Royal Commission such as daycare or pay equity. Experts study sources for 10 minutes, then regroup to teach peers and discuss impacts. Conclude with a class vote on most transformative recommendation.

45 min·Small Groups

Debate Pairs: Pill vs. Morgentaler

Pairs prepare arguments on whether the pill or Morgentaler case had greater impact on women's lives, using timelines and quotes. Pairs debate with a partner, switch sides, then share key insights with the class. Teacher facilitates with evidence checklists.

35 min·Pairs

Gallery Walk: Feminist Timelines

Small groups create timelines of second-wave events, including the pill's introduction and Morgentaler trials, with images and quotes. Groups post timelines around the room for a gallery walk where students add sticky-note comments and questions. Debrief connections to first-wave.

50 min·Small Groups

Role-Play: Court Challenge

Assign roles as lawyers, judges, and activists in a mock Morgentaler trial. Groups prepare 5-minute arguments based on historical evidence. Perform for the class, followed by a jury vote and reflection on rights evolution.

60 min·Small Groups

Real-World Connections

• Public health officials in provincial health ministries, like those in Ontario, continue to develop and implement policies related to reproductive healthcare access, building on the precedents set by the Morgentaler case and subsequent legal challenges.
• Historians and legal scholars at universities across Canada research and interpret the impact of second-wave feminism, analyzing primary documents from the Royal Commission and court cases to understand their lasting influence on Canadian law and society.
• Non-profit organizations advocating for women's rights and reproductive justice, such as the Canadian Women's Foundation, draw upon the historical struggles of second-wave feminists to inform their current advocacy efforts and public education campaigns.

Assessment Ideas

Discussion Prompt

Facilitate a class debate using the prompt: 'To what extent did the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Status of Women and the fight for reproductive rights fundamentally alter the social and political landscape of Canada between 1970 and 1982?' Students should use specific evidence from the commission's report and the Morgentaler case to support their arguments.

Quick Check

Provide students with a short excerpt from the 1970 Royal Commission report and a brief summary of the 1988 Supreme Court decision in R. v. Morgentaler. Ask students to identify one key recommendation from the commission and one key legal principle established by the court, explaining how they address barriers faced by women.

Exit Ticket

On an exit ticket, ask students to write one sentence comparing a goal of second-wave feminism with a goal of the suffrage movement. Then, ask them to write one sentence explaining how the availability of the birth control pill impacted women's lives.

Frequently Asked Questions

What were the key recommendations of the 1970 Royal Commission on the Status of Women?

The report outlined 167 recommendations, including equal pay for equal work, affordable daycare, improved maternity benefits, and removing abortion from the Criminal Code. It exposed inequalities in employment, education, and family roles. Students benefit from source analysis to see how these spurred federal policies like the 1971 unemployment insurance changes for maternity.

How did the birth control pill and Morgentaler case change women's lives in Canada?

The pill, approved in 1961, allowed family planning and workforce participation by separating sex from reproduction. The Morgentaler case culminated in the 1988 Supreme Court decision decriminalizing abortion, affirming women's Charter rights to security. These shifts increased autonomy, though access debates continue; primary source debates help students weigh personal and societal impacts.

How do second-wave feminism goals compare to earlier women's movements?

First-wave focused on legal rights like voting, while second-wave targeted social and economic equality such as pay equity and reproductive choice. Both used activism but second-wave emphasized intersectionality. Venn diagrams or timelines in class reveal overlaps and advances, building skills in historical comparison.

How can active learning help students grasp second-wave feminism and reproductive rights?

Role-plays of commission hearings or Morgentaler trials let students embody perspectives, making abstract rights concrete. Gallery walks with timelines encourage peer feedback on evidence, while debates build argumentation skills. These methods boost retention by 30-50% through emotional engagement and collaboration, per educational research, turning passive facts into memorable insights.