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over—it was time to return to their "normal" and "proper" domestic duties. Other scholars argue that the Second World War provided women with the first large-scale opportunity to leave their parents' homes, husbands, and children to engage in paid labour. Never before had this happened at such a high rate for women. This mass exodus of women from
Canadian households allowed the women to forge new identities as military service women and munitions workers because of their newfound ability to earn a paycheque doing work in the public sphere. This brief period of freedom provided women across the world with the ability to enter into the
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125:, with the purpose of releasing men from those non-combatant roles in the Canadian armed forces as part of expanding Canada's war effort. Most women served in Canada but some served overseas, most in roles such as secretaries, mechanics, cooks and so on. The CWAC was finally abolished as a separate corps in 1964 when women were fully integrated into the Canadian armed forces. The headquarters of the CWAC was based in
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education, aged 18 to 45, and a
British subject, as Canadians were at that time. Since women were not allowed to enter in combat of any kind the CWACs worked as secretaries, clerks, canteen workers, vehicle drivers and many other non-combat military jobs. They were only paid two-thirds of what the men were paid in the same occupation (this figure later became four-fifths).
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Official regulations regarding uniforms were that the women must wear a: "Khaki greatcoat, barathea skirt and hip-length jacket, peak cap with high crown, and a cap badge with three maple leaves on a stem on which was inscribed 'Canadian Women's Army Corps'. Helmeted head of Athene appears on buttons
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returned following the war, forcing women in Canada, and across the world, back into their homes and kitchens. "Women's admittance to the army in World War II had not brought about a change in the distribution of power between the sexes in Canada." The freedom they had experienced during the war was
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with just under 7,000." In August 1946 the CWACs were disbanded. The
Canadian Women's Army Corps was re-designated The Canadian Women's Army Corps on 22 March 1948. The Canadian Women's Army Corps reverted to the Canadian Women's Army Corps on 18 Apr 1955. The CWACS were disbanded for good in 1964.
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The CWAC had many jobs with different uniforms. A canteen worker could wear overalls, a radioman could wear the battledress trousers and the battledress jacket (most common). Uniforms came in many different forms. Home front women usually wore dress skirts (or trousers) and round hats. If it was a
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The CWAC and other military organizations were aimed at attracting young women into the
Canadian forces during the Second World War, and paved the way for women's future involvement in combat. With tens of thousands of women involved in these organizations, it provided Canadian women with the
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noted that prospective recruits had to be in excellent health, at least 5 feet (152 cm) tall and 105 pounds (48 kg) (or within 10 pounds (4.5 kg) above or below the standard of weight laid down in medical tables for different heights), with no dependents, a minimum of Grade 8
204:, more served with Canadian occupation forces in Germany. Approximately 3000 served Canada overseas. While no members of the CWAC were killed in action, four were wounded in a German V-2 missile attack on Antwerp in 1945. "The CWAC was the largest force with 22,000 members, followed by the
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of the sexes, women were finally able to achieve full access to combative roles. No longer believed to be too weak or fragile to be engaged in conflict and confined solely to their homes and families, women were finally given their chance to participate fully in the
Canadian military.
250:(CF). "The perceived unsuitability of women for military service, because of their alleged physical weakness and emotional instability in the face of danger, an assumption which been misused to justify the exclusion of women from active military duty."
176:, of Victoria, British Columbia. She initially faced a great deal of opposition from conventional (male) military authorities. One senior army officer sneered at the very idea of what he called a "petticoat army." At first the organization was named the
265:, guaranteeing "that every citizen has equal rights and responsibilities", which has led the "Canadian Forces to expand employment opportunities for women. The ultimate responsibility of the CF, however, remains the maintenance of national security."
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The
Canadian Women's Army Corps (CWAC) was authorized on 13 August 1941, in response to a shortage of personnel caused by the increase in the size of Canada's navy, army and air force. The founding driving force to the unit's creation was Mrs.
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CWACs served overseas, first in 1942 in
Washington, DC, and then with the Canadian Army in the United Kingdom. In 1944 CWACs served in Italy and in 1945 in northwest Europe, usually as clerks in headquarters establishments. After
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opportunity to do their part in a global conflict. Although their involvement was critical to the Allied victory, it did not change the power dynamics within Canada regarding military involvement.
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Erected by local ex-servicewomen, a memorial in Salmon Arm, BC, was dedicated on 14 August 2000 to all
Canadian women who served in the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War.
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Today, Canadian women still represent only a small fraction of the total population of the
Canadian Forces. However, the CF is committed to following the principles laid out in the
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Bowley, Patricia; Wright, Kris (31 March 1997). "Canadian
Enlisted Women: Gender Issues In The Canadian Armed Forces Before And After 1945".
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job that meant getting your hands dirty, such as working on an engine of an airplane or vehicle, they would wear normal hardy clothing.
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After the Second World War, the CWAC and other military organizations were disbanded as women were finally incorporated into the
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Bowley, Patricia, and Kris Wright. "Canadian Enlisted Women: Gender Issues in the Canadian Armed Forces before and after 1945."
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and became the Canadian Women's Army Corps. They wore a cap badge of three maple leaves, and collar badges of the goddess
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Thrift, Gayle (22 June 2011). "'This is our war, too': Mary Dover, Commandant of the Canadian Women's Army Corps".
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Thrift, Gayle (22 June 2011). "'This is our war, too': Mary Dover, Commandant of the Canadian Women's Army Corps".
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and was not an official part of the armed forces. On 13 March 1942, female volunteers were inducted into the
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De la poêle à frire à la ligne de feu: La vie quotidienne des Québécoises pendant la guerre '39 - '45.
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woman to enlist in the Canadian Armed Forces upon joining the Canadian Women’s Army Corps in 1942.
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Parr, Joy. A Diversity of Women: Ontario, 1945-1980. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1995.
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Lamerson, C D (31 December 1989). "The Evolution Of A Mixed-Gender Canadian Forces".
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Lamerson, C D (31 December 1989). "The Evolution Of A Mixed-Gender Canadian Forces".
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Back the Attack! Canadian Women During the Second World War - At Home and Abroad.
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Former non-combat women's branch of the Canadian Army (1941-1946, 1948-1964)
810:, 1944 musical recruiting film for the Canadian Women's Army Corps, at the
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They're Still Women After All: The Second World War and Canadian Womanhood
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They're Still Women After All: The Second World War and Canadian Womanhood
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Athene, Goddess of War: The Canadian Women's Army Corps - Their Story.
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is a 6-foot-4-inch (1.93 m)-high bronze statue in front of the
703:"'Jill Canuck': CWAC of All Trades, But No 'Pistol Packing Momma'"
569:"'Jill Canuck': CWAC of All Trades, But No 'Pistol Packing Momma'"
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Greatcoats and Glamour Boots: Canadian Women at War (1939–1945).
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Goodwin House, former Canadian Women's Army Corps headquarters
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CWAC private tightening springs on vehicle in England, 1944
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and would eventually drive some to become part of the
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For the women's branch of the United States Army, see
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Military units and formations disestablished in 1964
253:With the changing tide of Canadian culture towards
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603:(Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1995), 179.
857:Military units and formations established in 1941
448:"World War II and the NFB :: The Home Front"
666:Dartmouth: Writing and Editorial Services, 1984.
23:For the women's branch of the British Army, see
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191:A February 1943 CWAC advertisement in the
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475:(London: Imperial War Museum, 2003), 262.
364:Royal Canadian Air Force Women's Division
852:All-female military units and formations
601:A Diversity of Women: Ontario, 1945–1980
483:
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750:Toronto: Kakabeka Publishing Co., 1975.
641:Auger, Geneviève and Raymonde Lamothe.
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546:. McClelland and Stewart. p. 13.
399:. Imperial War Museum. pp. 257–.
162:Canadian Women's Army Corps Brass Band
32:
799:Canadian Women's Army Corps Pipe Band
701:Pierson, Ruth Roach (20 April 2006).
567:Pierson, Ruth Roach (20 April 2006).
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842:Women in the Canadian armed services
369:Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service
659:Toronto: Macmillan of Canada, 1985.
614:"Canadian Women's Military Service"
121:for women, established during the
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872:1964 disestablishments in Canada
374:Canadian Women's Army Corps Band
269:Effect on equality within Canada
178:Canadian Women's Auxiliary Corps
645:Montréal: Boréal Express, 1981.
314:This corps was allied with the
847:Canadian women in World War II
284:, served in Canada and Britain
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832:1941 establishments in Canada
812:National Film Board of Canada
748:War Letters from the C.W.A.C.
673:Toronto: Dundurn Press, 1991.
652:15, no. 1 (March 1997): 9-25.
25:Auxiliary Territorial Service
728:Pierson, Ruth Roach (1986).
542:Pierson, Ruth Roach (1986).
784:Canadian Women's Army Corps
327:Canadian Women's Army Corps
300:women's liberation movement
153:CWAC cap badge and fastener
111:Canadian Women's Army Corps
36:Canadian Women's Army Corps
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867:Military history of Canada
837:Corps of the Canadian Army
807:Proudest Girl in the World
732:. McClelland and Stewart.
206:Air Force Women's Division
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393:D. Collett Wadge (1946).
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650:Minerva: Women & War
316:Women's Royal Army Corps
782:The Juno Beach centre.
356:, who became the first
282:Muskeg Lake Cree Nation
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225:CWAC, 1942. Photo by
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746:Roe Kathleen Robson.
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791:7 March 2014 at the
304:second-wave feminism
208:with 17,000 and the
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56:1941–1946, 1948–1964
786:Accessed 1 May 2007
685:(3). Pasadena: 19.
523:(3). Pasadena: 19.
92:Non-combatant roles
827:Military of Canada
669:Gossage, Carolyn.
496:(1). Pasadena: 9.
471:Collet Wadge, D.,
339:Kitchener, Ontario
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18:Women's Army Corps
739:978-0-7710-6958-1
707:Historical Papers
662:Conrod, W. Hugh.
573:Historical Papers
553:978-0-7710-6958-1
473:Women in Uniform,
406:978-1-901623-61-1
335:Kitchener Armoury
302:—a key aspect of
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164:(1945), by
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599:Joy Parr,
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434:A264270504
380:References
329:(2000) by
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322:Memorials
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348:See also
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