Injustice

By: Irene Murdoch

October 1973
I am a hardworking and dutiful farm wife who was done injustice and was denied what I
deserved when my marriage fell apart (Dennett).
I touch my face as I remember how my husband assaulted me, resulting in a broken jaw
and collarbone, and leaving me homeless (Rogers).
I wonder why the Supreme Court Judges could not see the significance of my
contributions to my marriage. Do they not feel that doing a mans work for nearly half a
year each year for 25 years is enough to prove that I deserve compensation for my
work? (Coomber and Evans, 65).
I hear the outrage in the voices of women across Canada as they all protest against the
Supreme Courts decision to allow my husband to give me two hundred dollars per
month as my only support. (Freeman-Shaw and Haskings-Winner, 183).
I want to be treated fairly by the law now that I have realized how biased the justice
system of Canada is. I want what I truly deserve, and I will not give up my belief that I
should have been given more than this even if I cannot continue to appeal to higher
courts (Dennett).
I see a future where women would be compensated fairly for their work and
contributions, no matter how big or small of a part they did. (Coomber and Evans, 65).
I am a hardworking and dutiful farm wife who was done injustice (Dennett).
I am inspired by the women who are willing to fight for change because they seem as if
they arent afraid of the law (Freeman-Shaw and Haskings-Winner, 183).
I worry for farm wives that may have to be in similar situations as me in the future,
knowing that they will not receive the judgment and verdict that they so rightfully
deserve.
I sought the help of courts to help me gain what I rightfully deserved from these 25
years of marriage, but it seems like I could not get any court to agree with me (Dennett).
I face the decision of the Supreme Court and the injustice that comes with it. Their
decision has brought to me the knowledge that women are just slaves in a partnership
(Dennett).

I accept the power of being known across Canada through this case because I know that
the newspaper will notify anybody will read the newspaper of what my life and marriage
has become. This means that others will also see the injustice of the courts decision.
I am a hardworking and dutiful farm wife who was done injustice (Dennett).
I try to accept the courts judgments no matter how unfair it was because I know that I
can no longer keep fighting (Freeman-Shaw and Haskings-Winner, 183).
I say that there are women who are content with their lives as it is right now because
they have never experienced something that works to their disadvantage and proves
the bitter truth of how unfair womens lives really are in todays society. I used to be
somebody like that, however (Coomber and Evans, 65)...
I now understand what the Womens Liberation Movement is about now (Dennett).
This movement means so much to women across Canada who actually want a better life
for the women of our society and I see that it will become the catalyst for change in
Canadian law and history (Rogers).
I dream of a future where women are treated fairly and as equals by not only the justice
system but also the men of this society.
I am a hardworking and dutiful farm wife who was done injustice (Dennett).