How Did Canadian Women Change Canada

Canadian women were instrumental for Canada’s war movement in World War 2 (WW2). They occupied jobs usually held by men while their husbands and sons were off fighting the war. They learned how to do more with less as the demand for war supplies, food and clothing skyrocketed. Women also had their first service unit which was unheard of prior to WW 2. These points changed Canadian history forever and pointed our country in a new more inclusive direction.

Firstly, women started to farm their land and take care of the gardens. This was absolutely necessary to maintain farms and keep the food chain moving in Canada. Before this time these types of activities were considered men’s jobs even though this change started to occur after World

Canada had its own version of ‘Rosie the Riveter’, the symbolic working woman who laboured in factories to help the war effort. Women worked shoulder-to-shoulder with men in factories, on airfields and on farms. They built parts for ships and aircraft and manufactured ammunition. They drove buses, taxis and streetcars. This level of female participation in the workplace was a first for Canada - thousands of Canadian women proving they had the skills, strength and ability to do the work that men did.” (1 Goverment) Women also worked in factories building weapons, ammunition and all sorts of other things that contributed to the war effort. The women in WW2 showed the world they are more than just housewives. Supplies critical to the war movement are what wins wars. If you can keep troops well suppied with ammunition, food and clothed this is critical to a successful war campaign. Women ensured these supplies never stopped.

Secondly, the goverment kept telling women that they had to do more with less. They would have to figure out how to send more items to the soldiers. This included war supplies, food and clothing that included socks, underwear and

“Those involved in recruiting women for war work in the civilian labour market also sought to allay fears that women doing jobs formerly performed by men were not upsetting the basic gender order. For instance, it was argued that women’s “natural” endowments of “dexterity, patience and keen eyesight” made them eminently suitable for the “deft-fingered” precision work required at various stages of aircraft, gun and ammunition manufacture, especially in electronics and optics.” (3 specialists)

Around the world it was common that women were considered less worthy and capable than men. However, the fact that the Canadian government was letting women join the military in what had been considered a manly job meant only for strong brave men. The reason behind the effort to get women into the the Armed Forces was because of the manpower shortage in early June 1940. Women had already petitioned the goverment for the right to serve so the National Defence Headquarters made it happen between 1941 and 1942. The three services opened to women were the Air Force, the Army and the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval