Looking for a few good women — Canada’s military goes on a hiring spree

Combat arms female here. Yup -- the culture isn't the best.

First, it's just lonely. The guys are great and many feel like brothers, but it's lonely being one of a few women. There are always a few guys who are predatory, and there are others who are jerks just bc I'm female. I get that there are jerks everywhere, and that it's like that for many women in other CAF trades, but it is certainly more pronounced in the combat arms.

Second, it's challenging to lead your subordinates when you're one of the few, if not the only, combat arms female they've encountered. There's an immediate skepticism that is totally noticeable. Sure, troops are typically skeptical of their leaders; but, it's both the troops and your peers being more skeptical than they otherwise would be. It's not insurmountable, it's just an added challenge.

Third, we don't have a lot of role models to look up to. I know so few women in the infantry and the personalities of the ones I do know are not consistent with the personality types that I value in my peers and superiors.

Fourth, there will always be the perception that we're weak. We'll always have to work twice as hard, run faster, or lift more to push past it and get our peers, subordinates and superiors to take us seriously.

Fifth, since Operation Honour started, I've witnessed an increase in inappropriate comments. It's anecdotal, but a few other female friends have noticed too. Pretty standard and consistent w organizational change theory, but nevertheless annoying. Here's hoping it all gets resolved.

Lastly, I'd love to see more women in the combat arms. I believe there's a problem with the culture that hurts retention of women in the combat arms, but first there's a recruitment issue. More female recruiters would show young women that there is a future career waiting for them. Also, not type-casting the women who do come into recruitment centers would be great. I went in to apply for the infantry or artillery, and I was asked if I wanted to go log or band. Not all young people play video games or watch war movies. Some come in bc they're curious. Our recruiters do a disservice by type-casting them and pointing them in a specific direction when the recruit knows nothing about their options.

/r/CanadianForces Thread Parent Link - thestar.com