Out Standing in the Field
In a time when allegations of sexual misconduct about men in
film, television, and politics, fill the evening newscast, Sandra Perron’s 2017
memoir, Out Standing in the Field,
provides insight into these situations. Hers is not an “I was a victim” memoir.
She addresses the sexual harassment, and the difficulties she had because of
her gender, in clear-headed and incisive prose. If there’s one book to read on
this subject, if there’s one voice to listen to right now, it’s hers.
The citation from the Mavis Gallant Award jury reads, “This
powerful and revealing memoir offers a glimpse into one woman’s harrowing
experiences as the first female officer in the Canadian Infantry. Drawing on
her journal entries to craft an elegant and gripping work, Perrault offers an
account of her experiences in military training and subsequent deployment
through the mid-1990s, both positive and negative.”
Out Standing in the Field has also been named a Globe and Mail Top 100 for the year.
In 2016, the Auditor General’s Report noted that the
military had no strategy to recruit women, even though they are required to
meet a target of 25% female uniformed personnel. According to Statistics
Canada, 1,000 members of our military say they have been sexually assaulted in
the past year. It is exactly this lack of significant progress that has
inspired Sandra Perron, Canada’s first female infantry officer and a member of
the Royal 22ᵉ Régiment – the legendary “Van Doos” – to tell her story in this
revealing and moving memoir.
Though consistently identified as top of her class throughout
her training, Perron was subject to harassment by her male colleagues, harassment
which continued over two deployments to Bosnia and Croatia. Despite this,
Perron served her country with courage and compassion, and forged lasting
friendships with the men and women she served alongside. Her story is a
testament to the strength and determination of all women working towards full
inclusivity in the Canadian Forces.
Sandra is available for comment on all matters military and sexual harassment in workplace.
-->
Contact: STEPHEN WEIR
Stephen Weir & Associates | stephen@stephenweir.com
109 Castlefield Avenue, Toronto, ON
CANADA. M4R 1G5
Tel: 416-489-5868 | cell: 416-801-3101
www.stephenweir.com twitter: sweirsweir
Stephen Weir & Associates | stephen@stephenweir.com
109 Castlefield Avenue, Toronto, ON
CANADA. M4R 1G5
Tel: 416-489-5868 | cell: 416-801-3101
www.stephenweir.com twitter: sweirsweir
No comments:
Post a Comment