The Role of Canadian Women In World War II

During WWII, Canadian women stood forward to fill a number of roles. The First and Second World Wars drastically altered the lives of Canadian women. In practice, they were forced to adapt to complete combat conditions. In uniform, they worked, volunteered, and served their nation. Women made significant contributions to the war effort, and their experiences influenced society’s perception of women’s ability. Women in Canada were not authorized to combat in the Second World War, but they were tremendously engaged in other areas. Others stayed at home and cared for their families, while others joined the women’s army division and wartime industry.

Women’s Motivation To Join the War

When World War II began, Canadian women felt obligated to get intimately involved in the battle. In October 1938, the Canadian Women’s Volunteer Service was established in Victoria, and despite the fact that only 20 women volunteers were required, over 100 women came up. Soon after, an increasing number of women felt obligated to participate, culminating in the establishment of the Women’s Service Corps. Other Canadian provinces have developed similar volunteer groups. The volunteer corps was modeled after the auxiliary troops of the United Kingdom.

Role of Women At Home

Domestic duties for women were crucial to the military effort. Prior to World War II, women were supposed to stay at home while men went out to work and play. However, the outbreak of the war forced society to reassess the role of women outside the home. The majority of women did unpaid voluntary work to aid the war effort. They collected and upcycled items and clothing for overseas distribution. The ladies were also in charge of maintaining national morale. They sold $318 million in war-saving stamps before the scheme ended.

Working Women

When men abandoned their jobs to fight in the war, women stepped in. The jobs were crucial for war supplies, especially as munitions became increasingly important to the war effort. Women thrived in male-dominated fields. The government supported the endeavor by establishing daycare centers to assist women who needed to work yet had children. When the men returned from the war, the women were obliged to resign from their jobs. Women’s manufacturing work was arguably the most important role in WWII.

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Women Army Corps

The Canadian Women Army Corps was founded in 1941 and had 21,000 members by the conclusion of the war. Women worked as chefs, canteen workers, telephone operators, clerks, and light vehicle drivers. The majority of CWACs worked in Canada, with only a handful sent abroad. Four of the women deployed overseas were injured, but none were killed.

Other Roles

Some Canadian women enlisted in the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve and the Royal Canadian Air Force. The Canadian Women’s Auxiliary Air Force was established in 1941, and the WRCNS was established in 1942. Other women worked as Nursing Sisters, and as part of their patriotic duty, the young ladies were able to abandon their families, attend parties, and dance.