Almost completed aircraft at the Can Car factory, photographer unknown
Photograph
Image
Video
Audio
Activities
LOOK
Look at the photograph and complete the following sentences.
- I see . . . in the photograph [describe what you see].
- I think . . . is happening in the photograph.
- I wonder . . . about the photograph [what questions does it prompt?].
LOOK
In the photograph, can you find the group of women?
- Was it easy to find them?
- What message do you think their placement sends to the viewer?
THINK
Look closely at the photograph. It’s a staged photograph of Can Car factory workers. Why would a photo like this be staged? What message is the photographer trying to send? Do you think this is an accurate depiction of factory work life?
DO
Take a photograph of your class. Now explain any decisions you made before you took the photo — about placement of people, lighting, what to crop, etc.
What might your photo tell future historians about school life in the 21st century?
Tip: Think about the demographics of people in your class, the number of people, the technology used, the set-up of the classroom, etc.
DO
Research the types of factory work performed by both men and women during the Second World War. Did gender determine the type of work given to individuals or groups?
DO
Find photos that show similar scenes from other factories that were active during the Second World War. Identify similarities and differences between the photos.
Tip: Start your search at the Canadian War Museum archives.
Details
Date 1939–1945
Materials - Photograph
Historical Context
Choose one of the three levels below to match your needs.
- This staged picture shows the workforce of the Canadian Car and Foundry factory in northern Ontario during the Second World War.
- Women made up half of the workforce, working in a range of traditionally male trades: riveting, welding and drilling.
- At the beginning of the war, only single women without children were allowed to work. Towards the end of the war, these rules were relaxed.
This staged picture was taken at the Canadian Car and Foundry factory in northern Ontario. During the Second World War, warplanes were built by a workforce of 4,500 people, over half of whom were women. After the war, all but four women were let go.
This picture shows men working in the forefront, and a group of women standing to the left-hand side. In fact, women worked in a range of traditionally male trades, such as riveting, welding and precision drilling.
Nora Gibson worked at the factory as an assistant riveter. She was allowed to continue working after she married, which wouldn’t have happened earlier in the war.
This picture was taken at the Canadian Car and Foundry factory in Fort William (now Thunder Bay), Ontario. During the Second World War, more than 2,000 warplanes for the Allied forces were built here, by a workforce of 4,500 people, over half of whom were women. After the war, all but four women were let go.
This picture is a staged shot of workers in the factory. You can see men working in the forefront, and a group of women standing to the left-hand side. In reality, the situation was quite different: women worked in a range of traditionally male trades, such as riveting, welding and precision drilling.
Nora Gibson worked at Can Car during the Second World War. She was employed as an assistant riveter when she met her future husband Jock. She was allowed to continue working after they married, which not the case for all women in Canada. At the beginning of the war, only single women without children were allowed to work, but these rules were relaxed later in the war, due to labour shortages. Women of colour had even fewer options.
- This staged picture shows the workforce of the Canadian Car and Foundry factory in northern Ontario during the Second World War.
- Women made up half of the workforce, working in a range of traditionally male trades: riveting, welding and drilling.
- At the beginning of the war, only single women without children were allowed to work. Towards the end of the war, these rules were relaxed.
This staged picture was taken at the Canadian Car and Foundry factory in northern Ontario. During the Second World War, warplanes were built by a workforce of 4,500 people, over half of whom were women. After the war, all but four women were let go.
This picture shows men working in the forefront, and a group of women standing to the left-hand side. In fact, women worked in a range of traditionally male trades, such as riveting, welding and precision drilling.
Nora Gibson worked at the factory as an assistant riveter. She was allowed to continue working after she married, which wouldn’t have happened earlier in the war.
This picture was taken at the Canadian Car and Foundry factory in Fort William (now Thunder Bay), Ontario. During the Second World War, more than 2,000 warplanes for the Allied forces were built here, by a workforce of 4,500 people, over half of whom were women. After the war, all but four women were let go.
This picture is a staged shot of workers in the factory. You can see men working in the forefront, and a group of women standing to the left-hand side. In reality, the situation was quite different: women worked in a range of traditionally male trades, such as riveting, welding and precision drilling.
Nora Gibson worked at Can Car during the Second World War. She was employed as an assistant riveter when she met her future husband Jock. She was allowed to continue working after they married, which not the case for all women in Canada. At the beginning of the war, only single women without children were allowed to work, but these rules were relaxed later in the war, due to labour shortages. Women of colour had even fewer options.
Summary
- This staged picture shows the workforce of the Canadian Car and Foundry factory in northern Ontario during the Second World War.
- Women made up half of the workforce, working in a range of traditionally male trades: riveting, welding and drilling.
- At the beginning of the war, only single women without children were allowed to work. Towards the end of the war, these rules were relaxed.
Essential
This staged picture was taken at the Canadian Car and Foundry factory in northern Ontario. During the Second World War, warplanes were built by a workforce of 4,500 people, over half of whom were women. After the war, all but four women were let go.
This picture shows men working in the forefront, and a group of women standing to the left-hand side. In fact, women worked in a range of traditionally male trades, such as riveting, welding and precision drilling.
Nora Gibson worked at the factory as an assistant riveter. She was allowed to continue working after she married, which wouldn’t have happened earlier in the war.
In-Depth
This picture was taken at the Canadian Car and Foundry factory in Fort William (now Thunder Bay), Ontario. During the Second World War, more than 2,000 warplanes for the Allied forces were built here, by a workforce of 4,500 people, over half of whom were women. After the war, all but four women were let go.
This picture is a staged shot of workers in the factory. You can see men working in the forefront, and a group of women standing to the left-hand side. In reality, the situation was quite different: women worked in a range of traditionally male trades, such as riveting, welding and precision drilling.
Nora Gibson worked at Can Car during the Second World War. She was employed as an assistant riveter when she met her future husband Jock. She was allowed to continue working after they married, which not the case for all women in Canada. At the beginning of the war, only single women without children were allowed to work, but these rules were relaxed later in the war, due to labour shortages. Women of colour had even fewer options.