Quebecers define themselves first as women, then as mothers and finally as spouses. In English Canada, the order is reversed, Canadian women consider themselves first as mothers, then spouses and finally women. The Léger firm discovered this difference by carrying out a large pan-Canadian study for a brand of baby products among new mothers.
This particularity of Quebec women is fundamental, keep it in mind when you read the following data: the model of society that Quebec women have powerfully contributed to building is a fairly unique phenomenon in North America.
Working means gaining autonomy, freedom, the ability to flourish as you wish. Of all the countries in the world, only Swedish women have an employment rate (83.7%) slightly higher than that of Quebec women (83.4%). We could even say that in the area of access to work, Quebec women do better than Swedes, and therefore better than the entire planet, because here, the gap between the participation of men and women in the labor market work is considerably less than in Sweden (3.4% compared to 5.2%). Note that Canada is not even in the race, with a gap twice that of Quebec (7.9%).1.
In terms of income, Quebec women are also in the lead. They have joined Ontarians and their average income is now 1% higher than that of Albertans and 6% higher than that of British Columbians.
The gap, this time between the income of men and that of women, continues to narrow and, here too, Quebec women (83% of men’s income) are well ahead of Ontarian women (75%) and Albertans (67%). %).
Immigrant women from Quebec also stand out brilliantly. In 2021, in Quebec, they had an employment rate higher than that of workers born here, with a ratio of 102% compared to 91% for immigrant women in Ontario2.
Here, company boards of directors are much more equal than in the rest of Canada and there are more women in general management and at the head of boards of directors.3. In Quebec, only 2% of companies have no women on their boards, while this percentage reaches 18% in Canada4. It must be said that in this area, even if Quebec is doing better, it remains a starving country that can be compared to a starving person. There is work to be done (work that will pay off: companies with greater equality have better performance!5).
The Quebec feminist movement is, all things considered, probably the most powerful in North America.
It is certainly the one who has had the most success in influencing public policies and fighting against inequalities: early childhood centers, parental insurance plan, pay equity, compulsory collection of alimony, maintenance of the name after marriage, access to abortion (Quebec represents barely more than 20% of the Canadian population, but 50% of the access points to abortion in the entire country are located there), are all measures that make Quebec one of the states in the world where gender and social inequalities are the lowest.
The future is promising, because these advances were obtained at a time when the presence of women in the National Assembly was not that of today. For example, in 1997, when the Pay Equity Act, largely responsible for the catch-up achieved by Quebec women, there were 23 women out of 125 elected to the National Assembly (18.4%). Since then, they have more than doubled their presence, rising to 58 out of 125 (46.4%), which makes the National Assembly of Quebec one of the most equal parliaments in the world.6. In fact, if Quebec were a country, it would be 10e in the world for women’s participation7 and Canada, 64e.
But there are many battles left to finish, if not start.
Complete equality is far from being achieved, violence still wreaks havoc, poverty still has a gender. And setbacks are possible, particularly under the attack of religious movements and certain toxic masculinists who target young people.
One of the most powerful motivators for political action is knowing that victories, even the most improbable, are possible. As women, mothers or spouses, Quebecers have made immense gains, gains envied almost everywhere on the planet. These gains should serve as inspiration for us to make further progress towards an ever fairer society.
Happy March 8th.
Get to the books, citizens!
The book A Quebec country: The yes of women is interesting for both federalists and separatists. It helps us think about the influence of the political framework in which we live on the advancement of women’s rights. There is a great diversity of points of view. To read.
A Quebec country: The yes of women
The editions of the stir
262 pages
1. Read the column “Surprise, Quebec overtakes Ontario” by Francis Vailles
2. Read the post “What if, in fact, Quebecers were less racist than other Canadians? » by Jean-François Lisée
3. Read the article “The discreet place of women at the head of companies” from the Duty
4. Read the column “A more equal Quebec” by Gérard Bérubé from Duty
5. Read the article “For businesses, having a good gender balance in your workforce pays off” from World
6. Read the column “Diversity in the National Assembly: pride”
7. Consult a monthly ranking of women in national parliaments (in English)
What do you think ? Participate in the dialogue