Canadian Cadets dress-code pamphlets probed for body-shaming girls

This investigation took place a few months after a strong disagreement over a similar recruitment leaflet found in September containing references to four Bs which stood for “boobs, belly, bums, boxers” and was considered humiliating to young women, according to CBC News.

The pamphlet also said that girls should wear shirts that do not “reveal their developing bits,” where girls’ breasts were referred to as “developing bits.”

Defence spokesman Maj. Doug Keirstead had reviewed all the documents used by all 1,135 cadet organizations across the country and unearthed that leaflets distributed by a St. John’s, N.L., squadron which used similar offensive references as found in the eight newly uncovered pamphlets.

This fact came to light when Melissa Moores, a mother of 13-year old, read the pamphlet.  Moores said in September her daughter had gone to an event for prospective cadets with the 510 Lions Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron in St. John's, N.L. and returned home with a handbook for air cadets’ parents. Moores’ was shocked with the contents of the handbook which made inappropriate references to girls' bodies.

One section of the guide caught Moores’ attention: "The Four Bs" — "boobs, belly, bums, boxers." She said, she was shocked by a line that read "girls are to wear shirts which do not reveal their developing bits."

"It just seemed wrong, I had to read it twice. I had this sick feeling in my stomach. It just seemed it shouldn't be there," Moores said.

In September, National Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan had issued statement condemning the 510 Lions squadron document, saying “this kind of language and the attitudes it represents are completely unacceptable in the cadets, in the Canadian Armed Forces and in our society.”

He added that “this shaming of young women is offensive to me as a person, as a father and as the minister of national defence.”

The same document spelled out guidelines for acceptable hair, makeup and body piercings which were offensive.

Gen.Jonathan Vance the Commanding General, Chief of the Defence Staff of the Canada Royal Army had expressed his "personal apologies" to the parents and members of the 510 Lions and added he had directed his staff to ensure that material distributed through the cadets revealed the military's values.

Brig.-Gen. Kelly Woiden, commander of the national cadet program, repealed the document and said it sent a bad message to young girls interested in joining the program.

"I've immediately directed it to be rescinded, I've immediately asked as well ... to review similar types of documents across the country, and ensure that that wording was an isolated case," he said.

Keirstead also said “We considered that whole concept of the four Bs to be inappropriate. The language that was used there was totally unacceptable and doesn’t represent the values of the Canadian Armed Forces or the cadet organization.”

“There are almost 8,000 cadet instructors working in these communities across the country and as a result of this situation, we’re going to take steps to ensure they have some guidance and support in order to prevent an inappropriate situation like this from happening in the future”, said Keirstead

Atlantic Canada had most of the documents using derogatory language, Nova Scotia and P.E.I. each contained two, with three in New Brunswick and one in British Columbia.

Keirstead said the Forces are looking at new standardized guidelines on dress codes for each of the sea, air and land cadet squadrons and added that any references to the four Bs have been removed.

“We’re also strengthening procedures to ensure proper review of locally produced documents and ensuring that cadet instructors receive sensitivity training,” he said.

(Reported by Asha Bajaj)

Image: Cadets Canada website.