Women in the Workforce was Another Goal for Viola

Viola was determined and strongly believed that all women should have equal opportunity to the work force and not just in the domestic work force but to be a part of the work force where men primarily took part in or were in charge. Viola was not satisfied completely from her studio so she went on to open the Desmond School of Beauty Culture. All Black females were allowed to come and learn, from all over Canada.

“Viola Desmond’s long-range plans were to work with the women who graduated from her school to establish a franchise operation, setting up beauty parlors for people of colour across Canada. Her former students recall that she kept the shop immaculately; that all the beauticians, including Viola, wore uniforms and regulation stockings; and their appearance was rigorously inspected each day. Viola Desmond personified respectability to her students, who always called her ‘Mrs. Desmond’ and were struck by the ‘way that she carried herself’ and her ‘strength of character’” (Backhouse 1999, 240-243).

Backhouse, Constance. 1999. Colour-Coded, A Legal History of Racism in Canada, 1900-1950. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.