scholarly journals Troubling Diversity and Inclusion: Racialized Women’s Experiences in the Canadian Armed Forces

2021 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 42-56
Author(s):  
Tammy George
Keyword(s):  
Lived Experiences ◽  
White Supremacy ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Race And Gender ◽  
Diversity And Inclusion ◽  
Canadian Armed Forces ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Structural Inequities ◽  
Canadian Military

This article centers on the lived experiences of racialized servicewomen in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). Drawing on qualitative interviews with racialized servicewomen, I problematize the function of contemporary diversity and inclusion initiatives within the CAF. Focusing on the intersection of race and gender in their lives provides a way to think through structural inequities within the Canadian military. By examining how these structures of power operate within the CAF, we are better situated to understand how current diversity and inclusion initiatives work to consolidate hegemonic power. Informed by feminist critical race theories and critical geography, I trace the experiences of racialized servicewomen to understand how they make sense of their inclusion and belonging and how they assess their everyday experiences in the context of diversity and inclusion strategies presented by the CAF. Their lived experiences reveal the importance of race and gender in their lives, and expose the limits of diversity and inclusion practices, particularly, in their inability to address deeper structural issues of white supremacy, heteronormativity, and patriarchy within the CAF. While concepts of diversity and inclusion are typically concerned with the inclusion of those on the margins, this research suggests that we must seriously interrogate the theoretical, practical, and political work of diversity and inclusion initiatives within a multicultural context. Troubling inclusion and diversity in the CAF demands we disrupt structures of dominance and reflect on how to re/conceptualize and re/integrate meaningful difference more substantially throughout institutional life in multicultural Canada.

‘Healthy Relationships’ campaign: Preventing and addressing family and gender-based violence

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carley Robb-Jackson ◽  
Sandra Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Military Families ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
The United States ◽  
Military Family ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Healthy Relationships ◽  
Canadian Armed Forces ◽  
Gender Based ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Canadian Military

LAY SUMMARY Canadian military families face distinct challenges due to the military lifestyle, primarily due to relocation, absences and deployments, and risk of injury and death. Tied to these challenges is the intimate partner relationship and the ability of the family unit to thrive. To support families, Military Family Services (MFS) undertook a collaborative process to create a modernized campaign focused on healthy relationships for Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members, Veterans, and their families. The “Healthy Relationships” campaign is a unique social media campaign centred on positive behaviour change, inspiration, and sharing of real military families’ stories. The campaign sought to shift the narrative from previous anti-family-violence messaging to promoting positive, healthy, and equitable relationships. The campaign was successful in its rollout across bases and wings in Canada, Europe, and the United States.

Top resources and tools for physician management of chronic pain in the Canadian Armed Forces

2021 ◽  
pp. e20210039
Author(s):  
Paul Dhillon ◽  
Nickie Mathew ◽  
Richard Lee ◽  
Eric Juneau ◽  
Robert Dale ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Continuous Medical Education ◽  
Prescription Practices ◽  
The Past ◽  
Canadian Armed Forces ◽  
Busy Clinician ◽  
Primary Care Clinicians ◽  
Canadian Military ◽  
New Evidence

LAY SUMMARY Diagnosis and management of chronic pain in Canada by primary care clinicians is a challenging and changing field with new approaches, evidence, and tools emerging in the past few years. For a busy clinician, it is vital to integrate and become aware of new tools that can improve the care delivered to patients. This article summarizes new evidence-based tools, key guidelines and research, algorithms, and simplified prescription practices, in addition to continuous medical education resources that will allow busy clinicians to rapidly be brought up to speed on the latest in chronic pain management in the Canadian military context.

scholarly journals The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members' experience with social services in the military: an exploratory study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felisha K. Khan
Keyword(s):  
Social Services ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Utilization Of Services ◽  
Perceived Need ◽  
Canadian Armed Forces ◽  
Regular Force ◽  
The Military ◽  
Depth Interviews

The aim of this study was to critically explore the strengths, limitations, barriers and gaps in social services within the CAF in relation to delivery, access and uptake of social services while employed in the CAF. The study provided CAF members an opportunity to express their thoughts, ideas and opinions based on their lived experiences, and to explore creative responses and solutions to issues members face with social services in the CAF. Presented are the findings from data collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with recently released CAF members. Themes that emerged from the research captured the lived experiences of the participants and were related to: differences between components (Regular Force vs. Reserve Force), perceived need and its effect on utilization of services, significant improvements in services post 9/11 and Afghanistan, organizational and systemic influence, impact of service providers, and better promotion of social services to the greater CAF community.

Sex and gender: More than just demographic variables

2021 ◽  
pp. e20210027
Author(s):  
Callaghan Walter
Keyword(s):  
Armed Forces ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Sex And Gender ◽  
Canadian Armed Forces ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Gender Based ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Published Research ◽  
Health And Well Being

LAY SUMMARY Taking as a starting point that sex and gender are not the same thing, a principal understanding of Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+), this article reviews research published in 2020 on the health and well-being of Veterans and currently serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces. The purpose of this review was to see how sex and gender were referred to in this published literature. The published research tended not to differentiate between sex and gender, often using the two terms as though they referred to the same thing. Possible reasons for why this has happened are explored, as is the importance of treating sex and gender as fundamentally different things.

Working together to address sexual misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Brown ◽  
Heather Millman ◽  
Bethany Easterbrook ◽  
Alexandra Heber ◽  
Rosemary Park ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gender Discrimination ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Sexual Misconduct ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Canadian Armed Forces ◽  
Military Members ◽  
Physical Health Problems ◽  
Working Together ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The Military

LAY SUMMARY In 2015, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) implemented Operation HONOUR to eliminate sexual misconduct (SM) in the military. Sexual assault, inappropriate sexual behaviours, sexual harassment, and gender discrimination are all types of SM. Experiencing SM can result in depression, substance abuse, physical health problems, and even posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Despite Operation HONOUR, SM still happens in the CAF. At this time, many groups are working together to address SM and to support those who have experienced SM. Canadian-based researchers, policymakers, military members, Veterans, and clinicians are collaborating to identify new approaches to training, culture change, research, and treatment relating to SM in the CAF. The end goal of working together is to minimize SM in the CAF and ensure the health and safety of all CAF members and Veterans.

“Battleships, Atom Bombs, and Lynch Ropes”

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Castledine
Keyword(s):  
White Supremacy ◽  
World Peace ◽  
Public Intellectuals ◽  
Comprehensive Strategy ◽  
Race And Gender ◽  
Social Activists ◽  
Global Peace ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Progressive Party ◽  
Significant Milestone

This chapter explores how the founding of the Progressive Party (PP) in 1948 was a significant milestone in the lives of Eslanda Goode Robeson, Shirley Graham, and Charlotta Bass, helping to mark their evolution from social activists to public intellectuals. Their success in uniting race and gender emancipation ideologies and connecting them to world peace with the support of mixed-sex, racially integrated organizations complicates critiques that nationalist movements have historically discouraged women's attempts to address feminist concerns. Furthermore, the work of these women in the PP, and in organizations like the Council on African Affairs (CAA) and the Sojourners for Truth and Justice, demonstrates a comprehensive strategy to operate within both political and social movements in an attack against the dehumanizing effects of white supremacy and for the promise of global peace.

Socio-cultural dynamics in gender and military contexts: Seeking and understanding change

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen D. Davis
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Sexual Misconduct ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Past Experience ◽  
Cultural Dynamics ◽  
Gender Integration ◽  
Fully Integrated ◽  
Canadian Armed Forces ◽  
Canadian Military ◽  
The Way

LAY SUMMARY Today, changing the culture of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) is a high priority, so that all members feel respected and included and do not experience discrimination, harassment, or any form of sexual misconduct. This article looks back at the CAF experience with gender integration to see what it shows about what should be done today. Over 20 years ago, many believed the job was done, that the CAF had fully integrated women and welcomed all members, regardless of who they were. Women have served in the Canadian military for several decades; they make important contributions, and there are no formal limitations on how they contribute and what they can achieve. Although policies and practices have changed, too often, some women and men continue to experience discrimination, harassment, and sexual assault. Based on past experience, this article suggests that thinking about different ways of understanding culture in the CAF is important in paving the way for a more inclusive experience for all members.

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