When “unisex” equipment is designed around male body norms, readiness is not neutral. As women’s participation in the Canadian Armed Forces grows, gendered differences in body proportions have practical consequences for mobility, endurance, and injury risk. Referencing NATO anthropometric data and Ukraine’s wartime redesign efforts, this article underscores why women-specific combat clothing fit is central to force generation and long-term sustainability.
How could gender-inclusive national service shape Canada’s future defence posture? This article examines the growing debate around universal service in Canada, assesses its implications for Women, Peace and Security commitments under NATO, and draws lessons from Nordic models to consider whether compulsory service could strengthen societal resilience and women’s meaningful participation in defence.
Canada has long championed the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda on the world stage, promoting gender equality in NATO missions and peace operations. Yet, at home, persistent structural barriers in the Canadian Armed Forces have created a gap between advocacy and action. Canada must address these domestic challenges and prioritize women’s meaningful leadership across all levels of the military to align its domestic practices with its global image.
Aleksi Korpela discusses the creation of Norway’s all-female Jegertroppen, and the prospects for women in the Norwegian Armed Forces.