DP

Notes on Women in Canadian Military during WWII

Class Outline

  • Part 1: Military Nursing
  • Part 2: Army, Navy, & Air Force Service
  • Part 3: Recruiting and Regulating Women

Women's Work in the Military

  • Involvement of Women in WWI: A significant precursor for women's roles in WWII.
    • Military Nursing: Early role for women in the military seen in both WWI and WWII.

Nursing Sisters in the Canadian Army Medical Corps

  • First Role for Women: Women primarily served as nurses in military settings.
    • Work Environment: Worked in field hospitals, often in close proximity to conflict, making their roles quite dangerous.
    • Example: Nursing Sister Margaret Brooke, who served as a dietician at the Royal Canadian Naval Hospital in 1943.

Social Acceptability of Nursing Roles

  • Historical Context: Women were accepted in nursing roles 40 years before entering other military divisions.
  • Depictions: Analyzing imagery of nursing sisters can reveal insights into societal norms regarding women's work and attire in the military.

Nursing Sisters’ Uniforms

  • Images from 1944: Women in uniform depicted in various contexts, showcasing their roles in both healthcare and military environments.
    • Significance of Uniforms: Differences in attire reflect both professional obligations and societal expectations.

WWII Military Auxiliaries and Women’s Work

  • Three Major Auxiliaries:
    • Royal Canadian Air Force, Women’s Division (WD)
    • Canadian Women’s Army Corps (CWAC)
    • Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service
  • Criteria for Service: Initial recruitment was limited to white, British subjects aged 18-41 with a grade 8 education and no dependent children.

Race and Ethnicity in CWAC

  • Expanding Recruitment: CWAC expanded criteria to include “Citizens of the United Nations.”
    • Mary Greyeyes: First Indigenous woman to join the Canadian military in 1942.

Motivations for Military Inclusion

  • Need for Personnel: Shortage of men during the war necessitated the inclusion of women.
  • Desire to Serve: Many women sought military roles as a duty and an opportunity for equal employment.

Women's Contributions to Labor Force

  • Relief of Male Soldiers: Women took on roles to free men for combat duties but were often not involved in active combat themselves.
    • Roles Accessed by Women: Primarily clerical work along with roles like cooks, drivers, and operators in communications.

Challenges Faced by Women in Military Roles

  • Harsher Regulations: Women encountered stricter norms compared to their male counterparts, often centered around behavior and appearance.
  • Public Sentiment: Approximately 40% of the Canadian public opposed women's participation in military roles, leading to significant societal scrutiny.

Maintaining Femininity

  • Public Discussion: Concerns arose over maintaining traditional femininity while women engaged in military work.
    • Gender Norms: Discussions regarding attractiveness and marriageability emerged as central anxieties pertaining to women's military service.

Recruiting Tactics

  • Media Campaigns: Targeted recruitment campaigns emphasized feminine appearance, using images of well-groomed women in military attire.
    • Uniform Design: Uniforms were designed to be stylish yet practical, maintaining traditional feminine qualities.

Concerns about Gender Norms

  • Marriage and Family Dynamics: The war led to worries about the disruption of traditional gender roles, specifically the male breadwinner and female homemaker model.

Key Takeaways

  • Women in military service challenged existing gender norms surrounding work and war.
  • Recruitment and regulation efforts focused on enforcing traditional feminine qualities in the military context.