Women played a major role on the homefront and in the armed services.

The labour shortage caused by the war drew more women into the labour force.The slogan
"from the kitchen to the factory" described the changes that women underwent
during the war years.
 

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In 1939, 569, 000 women worked in Canadian industry, mostly at clerical jobs. In 1944, 960, 000 were in war and civilian factory jobs plus another 800, 000 worked on farms. Fully half of them were doing what once was deemed men's work - filling fuses, assembling radio tubes, operating small machines, paint spraying, spot welding, punch-press work, and riveting. Women also ran streetcars, operated gas pumps, trimmed meat in packing plants, bottled beer in breweries and moved big booms at pulp mills.

• Over 45, 000 women served in the armed forces.

• In 1940, the Liberal  government of Premier Adélard Godbout gave Quebec women the right to vote in provincial elections.