How the Second World War Affected Canadian Women

At the start of the Second World War, the Canadian government did not allow women to join the army either, whereupon numerous Canadian women created lobby groups to convince the government to allow them to do so. In August 1941, the government finally created the Canadian Women’s Army Corps, which was followed by the Women’s Division of the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service, both established in 1942. Along with allowing women to enlist, a few women were appointed as military leaders, which was also a first. For example, Adelaide Sincair was the Director of the Women’s Royal Canadian Navy Service from 1943 until 1946. Although women were not allowed in combat roles, the war paved the way for the acceptance decades later, starting in 1987. Another significance of women in the military was that it encouraged women to pursue further education. When the Royal Canadian Air Force Women’s Division was first created, recruits were required to complete a year of post-secondary education. This introduced the opportunity of education beyond secondary school to many women, and following the war, a large number of them returned to universities to continue their education. It can be said that the lives of many Canadian women were changed because they enlisted in the military during the Second World War.