Unblurring the Lines of Responsibility: The Puzzle of Veteran Service Provision and its Gendered Implications

Abstract

The ever-increasing representation of women in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) has sparked discussion about the gendered implications of military-to-civilian transition. Women are now the fastest growing cohort of veterans in Canada and represent nearly 16% of the military. As the demographics of the military change in Canada and elsewhere, so too will the face of veterans. Despite the Government of Canada’s clear mandate to include gender-based analysis in all policies and programs, has this really been accomplished in the field of veteran service provision? We grapple with this challenge by problematizing the division of labour in veteran services and programs, examining whether programs have been responsive to gender mainstreaming commitments from the federal government. Finally, we demonstrate how a gender-based analysis can enhance services. We conduct a comprehensive environmental scan and create an original database for veteran services and programs in Ontario. A total of 211 individual programs and service offerings were examined and coded, with 5 found to integrate gender considerations into their program delivery. Our analysis is further supported by focus group data from 52 veterans. In addition to generating important recommendations for veteran service providers and employers tied to our data analysis, we also provide further best practices drawn from the experiences of two close allies, the United States, and Australia.