Canadian History Assignment: Wars, Women, and Social Change

This essay examines the impact of World War I and World War II on Canadian society, economy, and the evolving status of women. The analysis begins with Canada's involvement in WWI, highlighting the conscription crisis, economic challenges, and the initial steps towards women's empowerment. It contrasts this with Canada's participation in WWII, emphasizing the nation's shift towards industrialization and closer ties with the United States, as well as the further advancement of women's roles. The essay then explores the progress of women in the 20th century, focusing on the advancements made in economics, politics, education, and culture between 1960 and 2000. It also addresses the persistent barriers to gender equity in contemporary Canada, including the gendered division of labor, wage gaps, and the underrepresentation of women in politics, advocating for the eradication of these issues to ensure true gender equity.

Running head: CANADIAN HISTORY
Canadian History
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1CANADIAN HISTORY
Question 1
On 4 August 1914, Canada's military history starts with Britain's declaration of war
against Germany in the First World War (1914-1918). Since Canada's legal position as an
English hegemony left the foreign policy decision to the United parliament, the British
declaration of war immediately placed Canada in the war1. The impact of WWI on Canada is still
debatable since several researchers believed that there were a good number of positive impact of
WWI on the nation, like women empowerment and independence. However, negative impact of
the war on the economy as well as socio cultural factors has far exceeded the positive impacts.
According to researchers, Canada was not ready for war and as a result of this, the WWI
resulted in the death of 60,661 Canadian residents2. Additionally, the war had adversely affected
the economy of the nation. The debt that Canada was in due to WWI was as high as 2,4 billion
dollar and it took a toll over the Canadian economy. The Conscription Crisis had horribly
divided the nation between English protestant and French Catholics creating a conflict in the
society.
Researchers argued that during WWI, the society had evidenced a drastic upliftment of
the status of the women which in turn imposed a highly positive impact on the contemporary
Canadian society3. More than 2500 women served as nursing sisters in the Canadian Army
Medical Corps and hence WWI is considered to be a big step towards gender equality. Not only
this, the WWI was the first step towards independence for Canada.
1Hyland, C. Canada and the First World War. Alexander college, 2020.
2 Blake, Raymond B., Jeffrey A. Keshen, Norman J. Knowles, and Barbara J. Messamore. Conflict and
Compromise: Post-Confederation Canada. University of Toronto Press, 2017.
3 Belshaw, John Douglas. "Canadian history: post-confederation." (2018).

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According to researchers, one of the major differences between Canada’s participation in
WWI and WWII is that while Canada had been forced to participant in WWI, the nation, of its
own will had entered the WWII4. The chief reason behind this is its realization that Nazi
Germany threatened the very existence of the western civilization. Unlike WWI, WWII had
outnumbered the negative impact of the war on Canada. Canada during 1945 was highly
different from what it was in 1939. The nation became industrialized, urban, international, and
had better social services. The nation during the WWII, moved from its connection from Britain
to develop a close connection with USA.
However, when it comes to women empowerment, the seed that had been sown during
WWI became fruitful during WW2. The society stated considering as valuable members of the
society. However patriarch was still there and since equity was yet to be obtained. However, the
debt of the nation that got increased during WWI leads the nation to a economic depression.
However, compared to WWI it can be said that the economic condition of Canada during WWII
was much better since economy was phenomenal and debt- personal and national- was minimal.
Question 2
The 20th Century evidenced a commendable progress when it comes to the status of the
women in the contemporary Canadian society. Specifically, Canadian women were found to
make drastic advances in economics, politics, education and culture between the year 1960 to
2000. However, since the 1990, when WWII was over, progress in women empowerment
evidenced a rigid barrier which though have got shrunken but still is affecting gender equity in
today’s Canada.
4 Hyland, C. Canada and the Second World War. Alexander college, 2020.

3CANADIAN HISTORY
The chief reason behind this can be pointed out to be the orthodox and patriarch society.
During the war, women were considered to be highly valuable for the society due to their
contribution at that critical point of time to the nation5. However, as that critical phase was over,
women were again thrown back to a society that was full of superstition and restrictions for
women. Women during the 20th century had to face several social barriers, stereotyping mentality
and gender myths to make even the slightest progress.
Issues like gender division of labor making women responsible only foe domestic work
can be pointed out to be major barrier. Access to higher education was restricted for women.
However, the World wars had highly enhanced the confidence of the women leading to several
movements by women to break the barrier they were living in. The second wave feminism was
focused on issues like sexual discrimination and harassment and with the demand of laws for the
benefit of women and children.
While women movement has come a long way, even in this era modernization, Canadian
women are lacking gender equity. According to researchers, the term gender equity can be
defined as the fairness of treatment of both the gender according to their respective requirement.
This may include equal treatment or differentiated treatment but needs to considered equivalent
in terms of benefits, rights, obligation and opportunity6. Even in today’s world, 70 percent of the
working women in Canada are associated with jobs that are considered to be traditionally female
jobs like teaching, nursing, services, clerical and public administration jobs. Women who works
in sectors that are considered to be traditionally unconventional for women, faces major gender
discrimination in their workplace. Some of the major example includes lower wage compared to
5 Hyland, C. Canadian Women 1960-2000, Alexander college, 2020.
6 Blake, Raymond B., Jeffrey A. Keshen, Norman J. Knowles, and Barbara J. Messamore. Conflict and
Compromise: Post-Confederation Canada. University of Toronto Press, 2017.

4CANADIAN HISTORY
male colleges of the same designation, lower amount of scope for appraisal and promotion.
According to researchers, while the wage gap have got reduced since the 20th century till now, an
average women makes 26 percent less than men.
Another major hindrance to gender equity in Canada can be pointed out to be the
gendered division of labor7. Women are found to be working for more unpaid hours at home
compared to their male partners. This in turn is resulting in a massive adverse impact on their
carrier prospects. Additionally, the lack of involvement of women in Canadian politics can also
be pointed out to be a major reason that is hindering gender equity. Only 21 percent of 2000
federal election seats went to women. These issues need to eradicate on a emergency basis in
order to ensure gender equity in Canada8.
7 Belshaw, John Douglas. "Canadian history: post-confederation." (2018).
8 Hyland, C. Canadian Women 1960-2000, Alexander college, 2020.

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Bibliography
Belshaw, John Douglas. "Canadian history: post-confederation." (2018).
Blake, Raymond B., Jeffrey A. Keshen, Norman J. Knowles, and Barbara J. Messamore. Conflict
and Compromise: Post-Confederation Canada. University of Toronto Press, 2017.
Hyland, C. Canadian Women 1960-200. Alexander college, 2020.
Hyland, C. Canada and the First World War. Alexander college, 2020.
Hyland, C. Canada and the Second World War. Alexander college, 2020.