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Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Revising the Concept of Military Professionalism in the Canadian Armed Forces

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Abstract

In this chapter, we review how the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) conceptualizes military professionalism with an equity, diversity, and inclusion lens. We ask how the can CAF redefine military professionalism based on changing social and cultural norms. By examining the CAF’s Duty with Honour manual, which defines Canada’s military professionalism, we argue that diversity considerations are underdeveloped. We then turn to the academic and applied literature on military, professionalism to identify opportunities for conceptual and doctrinal adaptation as governments and armed forces embark on culture change. Based on our examination of changing social and cultural norms that have impacted the CAF, we stress the importance of updating common understandings of military professionalism, in theory, and amending the way it is taught.

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... Investigating the CAF's current culture is a good starting point in determining the factors contributing to members' sense of belongingness, empathy, and their attitudes toward culture change. The current CAF culture is largely defined as a military culture that is sexualized (Deschamps, 2015;Eichler, 2016) and adheres to the combat, masculine-warrior paradigm (Dunivin, 1994;Greco and von Hlatky, 2020). From the CAF's early beginnings, masculinity or 'manliness' has been linked to the identity of a warrior (e.g., Hinojosa, 2010;Lane, 2017;Pendlebury, 2020;Ferguson, 2021). ...
... Ferdman's (2017) broad definition of inclusion states, "In inclusive organizations and societies, people of all identities and many styles can be fully themselves while also contributing to the larger collective, as valued and full members" (p. 176), reflecting the idea that inclusion is focused on the fit and belonging experienced by diverse groups (Greco and von Hlatky, 2020). ...
... Nonetheless, effective demographic shifts within the military must involve not just greater representation of women, members of visible minority groups, and Indigenous people but also require their inclusion (e.g., Shore et al., 2011). Recruiting diverse newcomers to the CAF is not sufficient to address the changing demography in Canada (and consequently in the CAF), indeed, there is a pressing need to provide a welcoming environment for all members (Greco and von Hlatky, 2020;Pendlebury, 2020;Eyre and Matthews, 2022;Gallant, 2022). ...
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