ANALYZING LEISLATION WITH A ANALYZING LEISLATION WITH A GENDER PERSPECTIVEGENDER PERSPECTIVE

Gender Based AnalysisGender Based AnalysisEt Al.Et Al.

The Hon. Sarmite D. Bulte, P.C.The Hon. Sarmite D. Bulte, P.C.

May 31, 2007May 31, 2007

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Gender Analysis TermsGender Analysis Terms

GENDERGENDER The culturally specific set of The culturally specific set of

characteristics that identifies the social characteristics that identifies the social behavior of women and men and the behavior of women and men and the relationship between themrelationship between them

Gender refers not simply to women or Gender refers not simply to women or men, but to the relationship between men, but to the relationship between them, and the way that it is socially them, and the way that it is socially constructedconstructed

Because it is a relational term, gender Because it is a relational term, gender must include women and men must include women and men

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Gender analysis TermsGender analysis Terms

GENDER BASED ANALYSIS (GBA)GENDER BASED ANALYSIS (GBA) Assesses the different impacts of Assesses the different impacts of

proposed or existing policies, proposed or existing policies, programs, legislation and research programs, legislation and research on women and men and on different on women and men and on different groups of women and men groups of women and men (including children and adolescents)(including children and adolescents)

It compares how and why men and It compares how and why men and women are affected by public policywomen are affected by public policy

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Gender Analysis TermsGender Analysis Terms

GENDER BUDGETINGGENDER BUDGETING The application of gender-based analysis The application of gender-based analysis

throughout the budgetary processthroughout the budgetary process The definition used by the council of The definition used by the council of

Europe specifies that “it means a gender-Europe specifies that “it means a gender-based assessment of budgets, based assessment of budgets, incorporating a gender perspective at all incorporating a gender perspective at all levels of the budgetary process, and levels of the budgetary process, and restructuring revenues and expenditures restructuring revenues and expenditures in order to promote gender equality”in order to promote gender equality”

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Gender Analysis TermsGender Analysis Terms

GENDER EQUITYGENDER EQUITY The process of being fair to women The process of being fair to women

and menand men To ensure fairness, measures must To ensure fairness, measures must

often be available to compensate for often be available to compensate for historical and social disadvantages historical and social disadvantages that present women from otherwise that present women from otherwise operating on a level playing fieldoperating on a level playing field

Equity leads to equalityEquity leads to equality

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Gender Analysis TermsGender Analysis Terms

GENDER EQUALITYGENDER EQUALITY Means that women and men enjoy the Means that women and men enjoy the

same statussame status Means that women and men have Means that women and men have

equal conditions for realizing their equal conditions for realizing their human rights and potential to human rights and potential to contribute to national, policital, contribute to national, policital, economic, social and cultural economic, social and cultural development, and to benefit from the development, and to benefit from the resultsresults

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Addressing the Equality Addressing the Equality GapGap

It is first of all necessary to It is first of all necessary to identify outstanding equality gapsidentify outstanding equality gaps

It is important to address those It is important to address those gaps in a proactive mannergaps in a proactive manner

It is equally important to ensure It is equally important to ensure that there is a commitment from that there is a commitment from the highest levels to consider the the highest levels to consider the differential impacts of all policies, differential impacts of all policies, programs and laws on men and programs and laws on men and womenwomen

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Identifying the Equality Identifying the Equality GapsGaps

Although much progress has been Although much progress has been made over the past decades, women made over the past decades, women in Canada still continue to earn less in Canada still continue to earn less than men, to experience higher levels than men, to experience higher levels of poverty, and to be of poverty, and to be disproportionately affected by disproportionately affected by domestic violencedomestic violence

Inequalities are even more marked Inequalities are even more marked for certain groups in Canada, such as for certain groups in Canada, such as Aboriginal womenAboriginal women

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Addressing the Equality Addressing the Equality GapGap

A Dual ApproachA Dual Approach Developing policies, programs and Developing policies, programs and

legislation that are women-specificlegislation that are women-specific Ensuring that legislation, programs Ensuring that legislation, programs

and policies which are not specifically and policies which are not specifically targeted for women do not targeted for women do not inadvertently maintain or exacerbate inadvertently maintain or exacerbate any equality gap: the process of any equality gap: the process of gender based analysis (GAB)gender based analysis (GAB)

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What is Gender Based What is Gender Based Analysis (GBA)Analysis (GBA)

GBA is a tool that policy makes use to GBA is a tool that policy makes use to clarifes the differences between clarifes the differences between women and men when developing women and men when developing policies, programs and legislationpolicies, programs and legislation

GBA identifies the difference social realities, GBA identifies the difference social realities, life expectations and economic circumstances life expectations and economic circumstances of women and menof women and men

Once these differences have been determined, Once these differences have been determined, the information can be used to develop the information can be used to develop policies, programs and legislation that are policies, programs and legislation that are more equitable to both women and menmore equitable to both women and men

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Why do we have GBA Why do we have GBA

At the fourth United Nations At the fourth United Nations conference on women in Beijing, in conference on women in Beijing, in 1995 Canada, along with 188 other 1995 Canada, along with 188 other nations, committed to develop a nations, committed to develop a federal plan to advance the situation federal plan to advance the situation of women, both within its borders of women, both within its borders and globallyand globally

Canada developed the Canada developed the Federal Plan Federal Plan for Gender Equality for Gender Equality which contains a which contains a statement of commitments and a plan statement of commitments and a plan for future action involving 24 for future action involving 24 departments and agenciesdepartments and agencies

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Myths about GBAMyths about GBA

““GBA Favors Women Over Men”GBA Favors Women Over Men”

GBA is not about promoting one sex over the otherGBA is not about promoting one sex over the other It is a tool used to ensure valid comparisons and It is a tool used to ensure valid comparisons and

conclusions are drawn when developing policy. conclusions are drawn when developing policy. Programs and legislationPrograms and legislation

Example: HomelessnessExample: Homelessness A gender analysis of homelessness would capture the A gender analysis of homelessness would capture the

fact that more men than women are homelessfact that more men than women are homeless It would also reveal that men and women are It would also reveal that men and women are

homeless for different reasonshomeless for different reasons Homelessness in men is often caused by mental Homelessness in men is often caused by mental

illness and/or addictionillness and/or addiction Women often face homelessness as a result of Women often face homelessness as a result of

violence in their livesviolence in their lives Therefore, different solutions are neededTherefore, different solutions are needed

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Myths about GBA Myths about GBA Continued Continued

““We do not need GBA: Women and Men Are We do not need GBA: Women and Men Are Already Equal”Already Equal”

Men and women experience very different Men and women experience very different liveslives

Research shows that men have, on average, Research shows that men have, on average, higher incomes than women higher incomes than women

Women face socio-economic disadvantages Women face socio-economic disadvantages because of the social roles they perform and because of the social roles they perform and the value we attach to these rolesthe value we attach to these roles

If policies and programs are developed without If policies and programs are developed without takingtaking

differences into account, they may not meet differences into account, they may not meet the needs of either women or men.the needs of either women or men.

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Myths about GBA Myths about GBA ContinuedContinued

““GBA is only for policies related to women and GBA is only for policies related to women and women’s issues”women’s issues”

GBA is for all policiesGBA is for all policies Every government policy and piece of Every government policy and piece of

legislation impacts both women and menlegislation impacts both women and men The impact may affect them differently, and The impact may affect them differently, and

some of these differences may be negativesome of these differences may be negative i.e. changes to the Employment Insurance i.e. changes to the Employment Insurance

(EI) program in 1996 resulted in a dramatic (EI) program in 1996 resulted in a dramatic drop of Canadian workers eligible for drop of Canadian workers eligible for income supportsincome supports

Women were hit disproportionately hardWomen were hit disproportionately hard

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The Case for Gender The Case for Gender Based ProgrammingBased Programming

The day-to-day experiences of women differ The day-to-day experiences of women differ from those of men due to the very fact that from those of men due to the very fact that they are womenthey are women

Women’s life experiences are different from Women’s life experiences are different from those of menthose of men

Women are socially conditioned differently Women are socially conditioned differently from menfrom men

The concerns and responsibilities of women The concerns and responsibilities of women are different from those of men due to their are different from those of men due to their respective roles in society, the family and the respective roles in society, the family and the business worldbusiness world

The needs of women are different from those The needs of women are different from those of menof men

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First Step in First Step in Implementing Gender Implementing Gender Based ProgrammingBased Programming

In order to successfully develop a In order to successfully develop a national vision, policy, and strategy national vision, policy, and strategy for women, it is fundamental to for women, it is fundamental to first recognize that differences first recognize that differences between men and women do existbetween men and women do exist

This is being done in countries This is being done in countries such as Denmark, the United such as Denmark, the United Kingdom, the United States and Kingdom, the United States and through multilateral organizations through multilateral organizations such as the OECDsuch as the OECD

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Passive vs. Proactive Passive vs. Proactive Government StrategiesGovernment Strategies

Passive StrategiesPassive Strategies Are characterized by policies that Are characterized by policies that

are based on the assumption that are based on the assumption that men and women have similar needsmen and women have similar needs

Hence, women are served through Hence, women are served through existing programs and services and existing programs and services and therefore potential gender therefore potential gender differences play little or nodifferences play little or no

role in policy makingrole in policy making

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Passive vs. Proactive Passive vs. Proactive Government StrategiesGovernment Strategies

Proactive Strategies are characterized by Proactive Strategies are characterized by the following:the following:

Executive-level involvement in identifying Executive-level involvement in identifying gender-related barriersgender-related barriers

Monitoring the effective execution of policies Monitoring the effective execution of policies to support womento support women

Delivery agencies that are aware, sympathetic Delivery agencies that are aware, sympathetic and responsive to potential gender differencesand responsive to potential gender differences

Program priorities and outcomes that reflect Program priorities and outcomes that reflect the concerns of womenthe concerns of women

Program monitoring and reporting on the Program monitoring and reporting on the equitable inclusion of womenequitable inclusion of women

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Policy and Program Policy and Program Recommendations Recommendations

Establish program evaluation criteria Establish program evaluation criteria at the inception of policies and at the inception of policies and programsprograms

Policy makers must recognize that a Policy makers must recognize that a on-size-fits-all approach is insufficienton-size-fits-all approach is insufficient

Make delivery agencies accountable Make delivery agencies accountable for women’s participation in their for women’s participation in their programsprograms

Develop gender-base programs to Develop gender-base programs to support the needs of womensupport the needs of women

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The Case for Gender The Case for Gender Disaggregated DataDisaggregated Data

Gender disaggregated government information is Gender disaggregated government information is extremely important, as is survey research extremely important, as is survey research information on the characteristics and challenges information on the characteristics and challenges of women (and men)of women (and men)

Lack of reliable data disaggregated by gender Lack of reliable data disaggregated by gender hinders the development of evidence based hinders the development of evidence based policiespolicies

Having accurate, reliable and timely research-Having accurate, reliable and timely research-based information is a critical component in based information is a critical component in making the case for policy action and for making the case for policy action and for monitoring progress (or lack thereof)monitoring progress (or lack thereof)

Research is also vitally important tool for both Research is also vitally important tool for both program development and public policy actionprogram development and public policy action

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The Importance of Public The Importance of Public Policy Forums and Policy Forums and

DebatesDebates The third and perhaps most important The third and perhaps most important

approach to addressing the equality approach to addressing the equality gapgap

Use Women’s Caucus as a form to Use Women’s Caucus as a form to launch an overall debates on specific launch an overall debates on specific policies, before policies become policies, before policies become implemented in legislationimplemented in legislation

Engage women, women’s groups, and Engage women, women’s groups, and all those who seek to improve the lives all those who seek to improve the lives of women and families in helping to of women and families in helping to achieve social and economic progressachieve social and economic progress