News Release Archive
N.S. STATUS OF WOMEN--Economic Equality Benchmarks Released
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A set of economic indicators, recognizing both differences and
similarities in the lives of women and men, was released today at
a meeting of federal, provincial and territorial ministers
responsible for the status of women.
The Economic Gender Equality Indicators, a set of benchmarks
that, taken together, reflect core interrelated aspects of
women's and men's economic lives, were designed to enhance
understanding of women's realities that are often overlooked.
These include income from a variety of sources in addition to
earnings, unpaid as well as paid work, and education and
job-related training.
Among the report's key findings is a narrowing of gender gaps in
earnings and income between 1986 and 1995 across Canada. Women
made inroads into male-dominated educational fields, and female
graduates improved their chances of getting "good" jobs. There
was also a better sharing of paid and unpaid work in 1992 than in
1986.
But the report identified that significant gaps remain: women
receive less income and employer-sponsored training, yet they put
in a longer workday than men. Closing gender gaps will require
solutions within the labour market as well as outside it.
The federal, provincial and territorial ministers commissioned
the development of these indicators to contribute to the
knowledge base and gender analysis capacity that effective social
and economic policy requires. The report is designed for use by
government and other players in the public policy process to
raise awareness of women's and men's realities, stimulate public
policy discussion, encourage a search for explanations and
responses and monitor change over time.
The economic indicators were released in Halifax at the 16th
annual meeting of the federal, provincial and territorial
ministers responsible for the status of women. The meeting, to
Friday, Oct. 31, is being held at the World Trade and Convention
Centre.
-30-
Contact: Cathy McRae
Status of Women Canada
613-995-7835
Chris Hansen
Status of Women Nova Scotia
902-424-4190
Cell: 902-456-7560
E-mail: hansence@gov.ns.ca
NOTE TO EDITORS: A backgrounder on the Economic Gender Equality
Indicators is available; please e-mail rossng@gov.ns.ca or call
902-424-4492 for a copy.
AU CHEF DES NOUVELLES: Pour version francaise, appeler
902-424-4492 ou c. elec. rossng@gov.ns.ca. Un document
d'information est egalement disponible en francais.
ngr Oct. 30, 1997 2:30 p.m.
