Artifact #2: To the Women of Canada Poster

Citation:

Unknown Artist. To the Women of Canada. Between 1914 and 1918. Archives of Ontario War Poster Collection. Reference Code: C 233-2-4-0-263. I0016138. https://www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/explore/online/posters/big/big_30_war_poster.aspx

Label:

During a time of high pressure to supply more soldiers, the government turned to the women of Canada. The propaganda poster "To the Women of Canada" urged civilian women to play an active role in the war effort. The poster directly appealed to women to help increase the number of male enlistments. The poster used urgency reflected in the bold and capitalized words "NOW" and "Go" and evoked fear by alluding to the German attack on Belgium. By mentioning the safety of the women's children and homes that relied on men to enlist, the poster created an emotional appeal. Women had a moral responsibility to send the men in their lives off to war, which is understood in the phrase, "Is he to hang his head because you would not let him go?" This is one of many posters tailored to specific groups to help maximize national interest in the war efforts. By addressing the women of Canada in this manner, the poster aimed to increase enlistment numbers and showed that every Canadian citizen played an important part in helping shape the nation's fate, regardless of gender. This reflects a broader wartime shift in gender roles.