Photo Credit: Parliament, Ottawa, Government of Canada
Esprit de Corps Magazine October 2021 // Volume 28 Issue 9
Let's Talk About Women in the Military – Column 31
By Military Woman
Question:
What advice does “Military Woman” have for the new federal government?
Answer:
This column was written before knowing the results of the election; however the health and welfare of military women is expected to be of continued political interest regardless of the winner. So, what general advice could we offer to the new government?
Be Bold. There is still much that needs to be fixed in the military. The easy fixes have already all been made. It will require patience and perseverance to identify and address the root causes of the military’s remaining complex intersectional problems. And, although the political focus has been largely on sexual misconduct, all forms of systemic bias and discrimination in the military must be addressed concurrently. It will take a government with vision and courage to successfully oversee and direct the needed changes in military culture. Uncomfortable conversations must still be had with Canadians, politicians, and military members alike.
Talk to Canadians. For a number of diverse reasons, recruitment is likely to be challenging for the foreseeable future. This reality means the military’s sustainability will be predicated on its ability to successfully effect culture change to attract young Canadians and to clearly articulate to them for what and why they are signing up. Peacekeeping? Combat? Cyber? Domestic emergency response? Let’s reconfirm with Canadians what their military’s primary functions should be. Only then can we fully reimagine and communicate what an “ideal Canadian soldier” needs to be to make our military strong, secure, and inclusive.
Listen to Military Members. Because military members must be apolitical and non-unionized, their voices are often muted when the political level seeks their input. Politicians would therefore be wise to concurrently seek the voice of the retired/released military members and their loved ones, who are unencumbered by such limitations. Government would do well to remember that the most efficient and effective recruiters in all the world are happy healthy veterans.
Do No Harm. When developing any new military program, policy or benefit follow three steps. First, apply a sex and gender-based analysis. For the military to attract and represent the diverse population it serves, inclusion and intersectionality issues must be addressed. Second, the military is, by definition, a trauma-exposed workplace. Therefore, all programs and policies applied to the military should be trauma aware and informed. Third, the military is by definition “not civilian.” Civilian decision makers must seek out and include military culture awareness, including the existence of a plethora of military sub-cultures. Missing any of these three steps makes preventable harm inequitably likely to occur to members of the non-dominant military groups such as women, Indigenous people, LGBTQ2 people and people of colour.
Uphold Sexual and Reproductive Human Rights. Many military women want to serve their country and to have a family. Because of the unique work stresses and exposures possible especially in operational military jobs and environments, every military pregnancy ideally is planned. As military member’s medical care is a federal, not provincial, responsibility there is much that the federal government can do to ensure military women’s sexual and reproductive human rights. Or policy makers, health care providers, military members and their chain of command should be aware of the basics of how to support women’s health needs particularly on-board ship, in the field, and during deployments. All military members should be allowed to store their sperm/eggs prior to deployments as a government provided workplace benefit. All military members should be aware of what their options are after unplanned sex, regardless of where they are in the world. Day-after sex medications (Plan B) should be accessible without barriers to all members, including on ships and during deployment. Medication abortion (Mifegymiso) should be available including by telemedicine support when operationally so required. Margaret Atwood’s “Handmaid’s Tale” cannot be allowed to become a Texas based documentary instead of what it is – a highly evocative and disturbing sociological commentary and warning.
