Throughout her life, Nellie McClung strove to improve the quality of life not just for women but for all Canadians. Her principle aim was to achieve recognition and acceptance of women who had traditionally been denied a role in the institutions and organizations which governed both Canadian politics and culture. An active suffragist, writer, prohibitionist, and political agitator, McClung's efforts brought about much change in Canadian society. While an examination of the reforms and movements she supported are obviously feminist in nature, it is difficult to determine the root of her feminist beliefs. Today's terms for first wave feminists were not used in Nellie McClung's era. Now, these activists are labeled as either maternal or equal rights feminists and such a label would seem to dictate a distinct philosophy and motives for reform. McClung is difficult to label since she seems to alternate between the two types of feminism. The discussion of fir

'God created man in his own image . . . male and female. He created them.' That is to say, He created male and female man. Further on in the story of creation it says: 'He gave them dominion etc.' It would seem from this, that men and women got away to a fair start. There was no inequality to begin with. God gave them dominion over everything; there were no favours, no special privileges. Whatever inequality has crept in since, has come without God's sanction.

It was not until 1926 that Lydia Gruchy, the first female candidate, came forward, and not until 1936 that she was actually ordained. In 1929, after Nellie McClung, Emily Murphy, and three other feminists won the Persons Case, it was declared that, "Now only two great institutions wouldn't accept women on equal terms - the church and the beer parlour!" Arguments declaring that women would not be as capable counsellors as men, and that female priests would act as temptresses, slowed action from the church. Nellie's participation in the fight for the installation of women in the United Church was both extensive and influential. In this case, it is quite clear that her feminist arguments incorporated the ideals of equality and fairness rather than voicing the maternal arguments that focused on the role and significance of the mother and family in Canadian society.

Religion played a prominent role in the life of Nellie McClung since childhood. Brought up by an Irish father and Scottish mother in a Methodist household, Nellie formulated a strong system of Christian beliefs. The ordination of women in the church began when women felt that they should have a voice in church administration. Nellie supported this movement declaring that

When faced with the proposition of female suffrage in the first decades of the twentieth century, most male politicians claimed that they respected women, yet the political spectrum was too harsh and corrupt for them. Premier Rodmond Roblin of Manitoba proved to be a particularly resistant force on the question of female suffrage. He tried to manipulate maternal feminist rhetoric in order to establish his case:

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Approximate Word count = 2586
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)