FAQ

This section contains answers to questions we receive most often.

- ABORIGINAL WOMEN

- CANADIAN WOMEN'S HISTORY

- TRAFFICKING IN WOMEN

- GLOBALIZATION AND TRADE

- TAXATION

ABORIGINAL WOMEN

While Canada ranks third on the United Nations Human Development Index, women of Aboriginal origin would rank well below. According to Statistics Canada, Aboriginal women have less formal education than other Canadian women, a shorter life expectancy, are less likely to be employed and are more likely to live below the income cut-off level. Aboriginal women also face higher than average rates of spousal violence. SWC works to integrate the realities and perspectives of Aboriginal women, into the self-governance initiative and participate more fully in Canadian society. SWC also works towards improving other legal structures that affect Aboriginal women.

Please consult the links below, or contact Library Services for further information.

Status of Women Canada Publications

• Aboriginal Women's Roundtable on Gender Equality
• Aboriginal Women and Jobs: Challenges and Issues for Employability Programs in Quebec
• Aboriginal Women in Canada: Strategic Research Directions for Policy Development
• First Nations Women, Governance and the Indian Act: A Collection of Policy Research Reports
• If Gender Mattered: A Case Study of Inuit Women, Land Claims and the Voisey's Bay Nickel Project
• North American Indian, Métis and Inuit Women Speak about Culture, Education and Work

Links of Interest

• Health Canada - Women's Health Bureau - The Health of Aboriginal Women
• Canadian Heritage - Aboriginal Women's Program
• Indian and Northern Affairs Canada - Aboriginal Women: A Profile from the 1996 Census

CANADIAN WOMEN'S HISTORY

Status of Women Canada receives a number of requests for information on Canadian women's history. With the progression of time, more information is becoming available, particularly biographical information.

Please consult the links below, or contact Library Services for further information.

Status of Women Canada Publications

• Women's History Month (October)

Links of Interest

• NLC - Celebrating Women's Achievements...
• Parks Canada - Women winning the vote in Canada

TRAFFICKING IN WOMEN

The growing new phenomenon of trade in humans is a serious issue that has significant gender implications. It is connected to global economic integration and increased trade and migration patterns as well as immigration policies, the social value of women's work, prostitution and the sexual exploitation of children. Trafficking in women is both human rights abuse and a form of violence, and has been described as a modern form of slavery. SWC continues to work with its federal partners in other government departments to reach comprehensive strategies to address this serious issue.

Please consult the links below, or contact Library Services for further information.

Status of Women Canada Publications

• Trafficking in Women in Canada: A Critical Analysis of the Legal Framework Governing Immigrant Live-in Caregivers and Mail-Order Brides
• Migrant Sex Workers from Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union: The Canadian Case
• Canada: The New Frontier for Filipino Mail-Order Brides

Links of Interest

• Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Strategic Policy, Planning and Research
  Trafficking in Women -- Inventory of Information Needs and Available Information

GLOBALIZATION AND TRADE

Through its various partnerships, Status of Women Canada strives to enhance knowledge and facilitate the dissemination of information to influence the development of policy associated with globalization and increased international trade. These issues have been the focus of policy debates and research within and outside the government. Yet there has been little analysis of their differential benefits and effects for men and women. Challenges include:

• The competitive disadvantage of women who have lower income and less access to resources (e.g. training, technology and credit) to benefit form trade
  
  
• The fact that women's non-market activities are not taken into account in the market-oriented context of trade and investment liberalization
  
  
• The constraints on women's job opportunities (e.g. mobility) stemming form occupational segregation and dependent care responsibilities; and,
  
  
• The potential impact of international trade agreements on Canada's social infrastructure

Please consult the links below, or contact Library Services for further information.

Status of Women Canada Publications

• International Trade: Putting Gender Into the Process: Initiatives and Lessons Learned
• International Trade Policy: A Primer
• Women and Trade in Canada: An Overview of Key Issues

Links of Interest

• Women's Access to the Economy in the Current Period of Economic Integration of Americas: What Economy?
• North-South Institute
  Gender Front and Centre: An APEC Primer
• DFAIT - Businesswomen in Trade
• Conseil du statut de la femme du Québec - The FTAA and Equality Between Men and Women - a Different Outlook on the world

TAXATION

Many requests received at Status of Women Canada concern the impact of the taxation system on Canadian women.

Please consult the links below, or contact Library Services for further information.

Status of Women Canada Publications

• Enabling Income: CPP Disability Benefits and Women with Disabilities
• Mothers as Earners, Mothers as Carers: Responsibility for Children, Social Policy and the Tax System
• Unpaid Work and Macroeconomics: New Discussions, New Tools for Action
• Women, Tax and Social Programs: The Gendered Impact of Funding Social Programs through the Tax System
• Women and the Equality Deficit: The Impact of Restructuring Canada's Social Programs

Links of Interest

• Canada Customs and Revenue Agency