Carmen Poulin

Discharged for Homosexuality from the Canadian Military: Health Implications for Lesbians

This study examines the short- and long-term psychological, physical and social health implications associated with pre-1992 investigations and eventual discharge of Canadian military servicewomen for reasons of homosexuality. Theoretically, it sheds light on the impact of the intersection between sexism and heterosexism. The feminist psycho-social ethnography of the commonplace methodology was utilized. The study draws on in-depth semi-structured interviews with 13 former military personnel who self-identified as lesbian. While in the military, study participants were persecuted and forced to adopt various cognitive and behavioural coping strategies to avoid being found out and discharged by the military’s Special Investigative Unit. Women reported that the relentless military surveillance, ongoing risk evaluation, and identity hiding contributed to psychological, physical and social health effects, including high stress, physical exhaustion, depression, substance abuse and social isolation. The criminal code’s definition of torture and the literature regarding the effects of stalking on victims provide context for the results. The discussion presents policy recommendations aimed at repairing the psychological damage that discharged lesbian service members suffered.

Part-Time Disabled Lesbian Passing on Roller Blades, or PMS, Prozac, and Essentializing Women's Ailments

Abstract This paper discusses the role of the medical and psychiatric systems, as well as the pharmaceutical industry, in the social construction of womens hormonally-related ailments and their treatments. For some marginalised groups, passing as “normal” is a protection strategy against discrimination and maltreatment. Lesbians and invisibly disabled persons are examples of such groups. Given that the reproductive cycle and madness have been linked historically, women suffering from disabling cyclical conditions might also be stigmatised. In this context, the dilemma between seeking treatment versus being labelled psychologically ill is expounded.

I. It Made Us Think Differently: Unger's `Toward a Redefinition of Sex and Gender'

Dear John,1 Thank you for asking me to provide you with some feedback on the latest draft of your History of Psychology text. I assume that you wanted my reaction, especially regarding your inclusion of important figures in the psychology of women area. First, let me commend you for deciding to integrate such a section. It is an important field, which has been ignored by far too many authors of history of psychology textbooks.2 Your choice to speak of contributors such as Eleanor Maccoby, Carol Jacklin and Sandra Bem (Bem, 1981; Maccoby and Jacklin, 1974) was most appropriate. Given that you asked my opinion, however, as usual, I will be blunt: you need to add more names, starting with that of Rhoda Unger. One of her papers is particularly relevant for you to reference: Unger (1979). Furthermore, it definitely should be one of the papers included in your associated collection of seminal [sic] readings in the history of psychology. Let me elaborate . . . There are many reasons why you should speak of Unger’s work in general, and about this article in particular. As you have made clear in most sections of your book, the development of psychology as a discipline has been punctuated and shaped by the political events taking place throughout history. Indeed, I very much appreciated the approach that you adopted in speaking of the historicity surrounding the work of numerous thinkers and their research, findings and theories. It serves to highlight the humanness of these individuals. For example, I enjoyed your discussion of Kohler, who was suspected of being involved in German espionage while completing his work on Insight Learning in Tenerife

Feminist Psychology in Canada

We are excited to have the opportunity to bring Canadian feminist research to the readership of Feminism & Psychology (F & P). We know, through our varied contacts with current graduate students and new and seasoned faculty researchers, that there is exciting feminist research going on in Canada. Yet, scholars from outside of Canada are not always aware of the work being done by feminist scholars here. Since its inception, F & P has informed our work by exposing us to the contributions of feminist researchers and theorists across many countries. This Special Canadian Issue, therefore, is an invitation to researchers and feminists outside of Canada to engage with the work of Canadian feminists, and for feminists within Canada to reflect on our strengths. It is our hope that readers of this Special Issue will be as stimulated by the contributions within this volume as we are, and will see the potential for future engagement and collaboration.

A threat to Canadian national security: a lesbian soldier’s story

ABSTRACT Before 1992, lesbians and gay soldiers were purged and discharged from the Canadian military for “reasons of homosexuality.” Those caught or suspected of homosexuality were subject to lengthy, humiliating, and degrading interrogations. This short story sheds light on this painful past. It is based on findings of a nationally funded pan-Canadian longitudinal study examining how Canadian military policies and practices influenced the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender soldiers and their partners. In total, 126 people were interviewed. While in the military, countless soldiers were investigated, numerous interrogated, many lost their careers, some committed suicide and others survived. Personal details have been changed to ensure the anonymity of the people, but it is their voices that tell this story. An official state apology was delivered November 28, 2017. Due to an impending class action court case, an agreement for compensation was also reached. Compensation and memorials will be forthcoming to those who were affected by the LGBTQI2+ purge campaign. To this day, no evidence exits that these soldiers were “ever” a threat to national security.

Culture of Corrections: The Experiences of Women Correctional Officers:

Based on 36 interviews with women correctional officers, we examined their everyday work experiences in the Ontario Provincial correctional system. We used the Psycho-Social Ethnography of the Commonplace methodology to determine challenges and complications women endure in this highly gendered, masculine-defined culture, and the resilience approaches they used to survive. Findings indicate how sexism, hostility, paternalism, and social alienation are maintained and reinforced. Women are repetitively, implicitly and explicitly reminded of their fragile femininity, physical inferiority, and lack of fit. Policy recommendations to contravene the Culture of Corrections’ androcentric nature, and those found in other nontraditional men-dominated work environments, are offered.

Clandestine Existences and Secret Research: Eliminating Official Discrimination in the Canadian Military and Going Public in Academia

The 1990s was a notable decade for lesbians and gays in the Canadian military. Two important changes were the 1992 elimination of the official policy permitting discrimination against homosexual service members, and the 1996 introduction of benefits to same-sex partners. These changes radically influenced the psychological day-to-day reality of lesbian and gay military members. Yet, given the military culture, lesbian and gay members only began to come out in significant numbers at the turn of the century. This article presents an overview of our experience with researching the history of lesbians and gays in the Canadian military during the late 1990s and early years of the new century. It reveals the early clandestine nature of our research, and recounts some of the trials, tribulations, resistance, and successes we encountered when dealing with ethics boards and funding sources. It also describes our relationship with the media and how the military actively took steps to stall our efforts. We draw parallels between our experiences as researchers, and those of the lesbian service-members we were interviewing.

The Menstrual Cycle

in broken and reconstituted families is held to blame. The significance of individual school cultures is also highlighted, and this is irrespective of whether the school is single or mixed sex and not entirely predicated by the social backgrounds of the pupils attending it. In conclusion, an interesting book on two worthwhile studies that were competently carried out, but I would have liked to have seen greater clarity in the presentation of the material.