The “lucky ones” and those that weren’t: sexual misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces

Abstract

ABSTRACT Canada’s need and desire to increase women’s participation in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and to ensure CAF members feel safe and supported has been eroded by recent sexual misconduct allegations against CAF leadership. Not only does sexual misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces negatively affect all CAF members, especially survivors, of whom a majority are women, but it also undermines Canada’s credibility on a global stage and its ability to be a global leader in regards to gender equality. This paper includes the perspectives and experiences of women in the Canadian Armed Forces on sexual misconduct and past efforts to address the problem. It will also address how Canada’s recent apology for sexual misconduct is a positive and promising step forward in its attempt to fix the cultural issues that underlie sexual misconduct in the first place