Sonja Maul-Wilson

Topic

Exploring the Experiences of Non-Traditional Military Spouses Concerning the Impact the Canadian Armed Forces has on their Careers and Lives

School of Public Administration

Date & location

• Tuesday, July 16, 2024

• 10:30 A.M.

• Virtual Defence

Reviewers

Supervisory Committee

• Dr. Richard Marcy, School of Public Administration, University of Victoria (Supervisor)

• Prof. Evert Lindquist, School of Public Administration, UVic (Member) 

External Examiner

• Dr. Will Greaves, Department of Political Science, UVic 

Chair of Oral Examination

• Dr. Ulrich Mueller, Department of Psychology, UVic

   

Abstract

Policies concerning Canadian military families established by the Government of Canada (GoC) and Department of National Defence (DND) have been described as ingraining traditional family constructs. However, demographic transformations away from the traditional family among the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) highlight the importance of having an accurate view of the demographics and experiences of all manner of Canadian military families and spouses. This study explored the experiences of Canadian, male non-traditional military spouses concerning the CAF’s impact on their careers and lives. It shed light on an understudied sub-set of the military spouse community and their unique experiences. The findings include limited negative impacts of being a military spouse on their careers and shared ownership among domestic division of labour between them and their spouse in the military. In exploring this under-studied population, it highlights the need to understand and account for the diverse spectrum of military families and spouses, and their realities and needs vis-à-vis the Canadian military.