Clara Brett Martin: Canadian Heroine or Not?
Canadian Journal of Women & the Law, Vol. 5, Issue 2, p. 263, 1992
18 Pages Posted: 17 May 2013
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Clara Brett Martin: Canadian Heroine or Not?
Date Written: 1992
Abstract
Recently, Clara Brett Martin, Canada's first woman lawyer, has been revealed to have been anti-semitic in her ideology and practices. Constance Backhouse profiles the information that has recently been discovered about this anti-semitism, attempting to locate it within the context of wider anti-semitism in early 20th century Canadian society. She discusses the implications of these revelations for Clara Brett Martin's place within feminism, and attempts to reformulate the concept of historical "heroine" within an emerging feminist framework. She concludes that while Martin had significant gaps in her understanding of injustice and discrimination, there might still be room for her within an evolving rehabilitated concept of "heroine".
Keywords: anti-semitic, lawyer, women, Canada, law, feminism, historical, history, anti-semitism, ideology, Clara Brett Martin
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