World War Two, Second World War, W.W.II

 
 
Canadian Women on the Home Front
 
New Work Force  

Much of the female population of Canada did not sign up for military duty. These women stayed home to continue raising their families, farming the land, and filling the jobs left unoccupied by servicemen. 

Being a young, unattached woman at that time meant unprecedented opportunities for jobs. Following the depression, this was very positive; however, for many women, the war meant several years of hard work. The stress of raising a family alone was just the beginning for these women. 

"Finding a place to live in Toronto is next to impossible but finding a wartime job is not hard. If I'd taken a course in welding or riveting I'd make more than the twenty-five dollars a week I'm offered for work in the blueprint office at John Inglis, a lakeshore plant that has gone into ammunitions. An apartment is out of the question &endash; no one wants two children." - Gwen Lambton. Oct. 29, 1942. ("War Work in Toronto" in The Memory of All That ed. Ruth Latta) 

 
 

Welder at work in Ajax, Ontario.
During the war years, many women were employed in factories and machine shops, manufacturing the equipment necessary for war. Guns, fuses, and shells were all in urgent demand, and manpower was at a premium. The Imperial Munitions Board of Canada at the time published the following accolade for these workers: "Twelve months ago no thought of woman labour was in the mind of any manufacturer. Experience has now proved that there us no operation on shellwork that a woman can not do; and, as a matter of fact is doing, even to the heavy operations which require great physical strength. Proper selection of female labour makes this work equally suitable for women."

 
Image 

Women's obligations were not only in the work force. This advertisement in a magazine reminds us of the absurd pressures put on women to fulfil both the roles of the day, as well as the roles of yesterday: 

"How fragile is the beauty of woman, yet it inspires the strength of man. Cheer the way to Victory by looking your loveliest &endash; skin petal-soft and fresh, chin lifted, lips bright, hands caressingly smooth. Care for your beauty for the morale of your country...your soldiers...yourself." 

 
 
Miss War beauty pageant
"Stockings were very hard to get....Did you know we used to paint our legs, to make them look as if we were wearing stockings? You needed a steady hand to paint the seam down the back of your leg!" (Back the Attack Jean Bruce, ed.)

 

Though their work during the war was invaluable, women were often disregarded. "My husband enlisted right away in the Air Force. This was something that wasn't discussed. The fact that it was going to change my life completely somehow wasn't pertinent. I wasn't to worry my pretty little head." (Back the Attack Jean Bruce, ed.)

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