ssw chpt 8

• Gender


  The characteristics that identify the social relations between men and women, or the ways in which this relationship is socially constructed
• Gender equality


  Equal opportunity to realize full human rights; to contribute as equal citizens to national, political, economic, social, and cultural development
• Sexism


  Prejudice or discrimination based on a person's sex—it can be obvious or subtle
• Patriarchy


  The domination of society by men and male interests
• Intersectionality


  An approach that takes into account the complex interplay of race, class, gender, sexuality, and other factors that impact life experiences
• Policy initiatives aimed at fostering greater equality for women at work

  • Equal-pay policies
  • Equal employment and employment equity
  • Equity-driven legislative and policy changes
• Women still earn only about approx. 89 cents for every dollar earned by men
• $80,000 After 30 years of work = $2.4 million, $71,200 After 30 years of work = $2.1 million, Difference of $264,000
• The Equal Pay provisions of the Employment Standards Act: 'require that men and women receive equal pay when doing the same job or substantially the same job'
• Problems Canadian women face in (and out) of the labour market

  • Under-representation in management roles
  • Large proportion of part-time workforce
  • Inadequate maternity and parental leave
  • Primary caregiver roles
  • Low-wage employment
  • Inadequate pensions
  • Vulnerability during economic recessions
  • Ineligibility for employment insurance
• Sexual assault


  Any form of unwanted sexual activity, that is forced upon another person without that person's consent
• Sexual harassment


  Any unwanted behaviour, comment, gesture, or contact of a sexual nature that treats the person receiving it as a sexual object. Promises of rewards in exchange for sexual favors
• Women make up the majority of victims of sexual assault (92%) and other types of sexual offences
• Most sexual assaults are not reported, either because women feel afraid, do not want to go to court, or know that the probability of conviction is low
• Sexual consent


  Should be both positive (e.g., saying "yes," initiating and/or enjoying sexual activity) and ongoing (i.e., continues during sexual activity)
• Only one in three respondents (33%) to a recent survey identified both of these traits as requirements for consent
• Power theory


  Violence against women is a societal problem that occurs mainly because of the power imbalance between men and women, and more specifically because of the dominance of men and traditional male roles
• Learning theory


  Violence is a behaviour learned in childhood. The emphasis of this theory is on changing behaviour through education and counselling
• Anger-control theory


  Men must be held accountable for their violent behaviour. Those who hold to this theory tend to favour a criminalization and punishment-based approach
• Cycle-of-violence theory


  Avoids trying to explain why violence occurs; rather, it uses a three-step process to describe what happens in individual relationships