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.