The National Selective Service (1941)
The National Selective Service (NSS) was established by Prime Minister, Mackenzie King in 1941. With most of Canada's male population participating in military jobs and fighting in the war overseas, the Canadian economy was experiencing a huge crisis that threatened the efficiency our industrial production - a mass shortage of labourers. The NSS was a service that would regulate the recruitment of civilians, providing a perfect solution to fill the labour shortage, by recruiting women.
The significance of the Service's establishment, for the women of Canada, was that it selected both men and female civilians for employment. The NSS made it possible for women to be considered for jobs that were once reserved for men. While, at first recruitment was focused mainly on women who were young, unmarried and without children, doors were soon opened for married women without children and later to married women with children. It was the NSS that introduced the prospects of, not only, women occupying jobs that were once perceived to be best left to men, but also, women with children, occupying jobs that went beyond the scope of being a housewife. The NSS's long term effect on women's rights was it's effect on -- perhaps unintentionally -- breaking the stereotypes of women not being able to occupy the jobs that men could in the workplace. Following the establishment of the NSS, women were able to prove their ability of working in equal positions to that of many men. By challenging the stereotypes of women, it paved the way for women to progress into fighting to achieve more permanent and substantial places in the workforce, as well as further advancement in achieving equality in men and women's labour rights.
The significance of the Service's establishment, for the women of Canada, was that it selected both men and female civilians for employment. The NSS made it possible for women to be considered for jobs that were once reserved for men. While, at first recruitment was focused mainly on women who were young, unmarried and without children, doors were soon opened for married women without children and later to married women with children. It was the NSS that introduced the prospects of, not only, women occupying jobs that were once perceived to be best left to men, but also, women with children, occupying jobs that went beyond the scope of being a housewife. The NSS's long term effect on women's rights was it's effect on -- perhaps unintentionally -- breaking the stereotypes of women not being able to occupy the jobs that men could in the workplace. Following the establishment of the NSS, women were able to prove their ability of working in equal positions to that of many men. By challenging the stereotypes of women, it paved the way for women to progress into fighting to achieve more permanent and substantial places in the workforce, as well as further advancement in achieving equality in men and women's labour rights.
The photograph above, from 1942, depicts a young woman welding. It represents the presence of women in work environments and occupying jobs that were once thought to be only suitable for men - thus, expanding traditional ideas of a woman's role in society.