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From the CAF to bookshelves
Four books written by women Veterans.
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) was one of the first military forces to allow women to work in all trades. Still, women experience service differently. The following books written by women Veterans show what life is like for some women in the CAF.
Girls Need Not Apply: Field Notes from the Forces
Author: Captain (Retired) Kelly S. Thompson
Raised in a military family, Kelly S. Thompson enlisted in the CAF at the age of 18. Her goal? To become a logistics officer like her father and grandfather. Success did not come easy during her eight years of service. In her poignant memoir she chronicles the triumphs and the trauma she endured as a woman in a male-dominated world.
How I Won the War for the Allies: One Sassy Canadian Soldier’s Story
Author: Doris Gregory
In her memoir, Doris Gregory paints a different picture of the Second World War than we know. She details the complexities of combat from her point of view as a Canadian Women's Army Corp member. Doris also writes about challenging gender norms and her daring adventures, all with a sense of humour, honesty and downright sass.
Out Standing in the Field: A Memoir by Canada's First Infantry Female Officer
Author: Major (Retired) Sandra Perron
Sandra Perron's story as Canada's first woman infantry officer is gripping and unapologetic. In her revealing memoir, she opens up about her battle to be an equal to men on and off the field. “There wasn't enough camouflage in the world to hide me in a battalion full of men," she writes. Sandra also explores the topic of harassment and its long-term implications.
The Stone Frigate: The Royal Military College's First Female Cadet Speaks Out
Author: Captain (Retired) Kate Armstrong
Kate Armstrong's book offers insight into life at the Royal Military College in the 1980s. She shares her conflicting feelings about being the first female cadet and her desire to be "one of the boys." Kate's story is one of navigating identity, power and sexism, to which many servicewomen and Veterans can still relate.
Date published: 2020-02-06
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