Women represented 50.5% of the total population in Canada, as of July 2004, according to Statistics Canada. In the population 19 and under, there were more males than females in each age group. Overall, of the population from birth to age 19,
51.25% are male and 48.75% are female. Females represent a greater proportion of the older age groups, beginning at age 50. Girls born in Canada in 2001 could expect to live for 82 years, compared to 77 years for boys. The life expectancy at birth has increased steadily over the past two decades, and the gender gap has narrowed. A girl born in 1981 was expected to live for 79 years, compared to 72 years for a boy.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
The Inequalities
One of the most thorough studies on this issue (Bouchard et al., 2003) points out that the apparent greater success of girls at school has yet to translate into social success for women. Providing in-depth data on inequities between men and women in the workforce, in terms of paid and unpaid labor and the on-going situation regarding
violence and poverty, this report notes: “The data confirm the major ongoing inequalities between men and women, and belie the position put forward by masculinists that equality has been achieved, or indeed that there has been a reversal of positions to the disadvantage of men.” There is no question that boys face particular challenges, and do less well than girls on some indicators. We strongly concur that boys’ issues need to be addressed.
violence and poverty, this report notes: “The data confirm the major ongoing inequalities between men and women, and belie the position put forward by masculinists that equality has been achieved, or indeed that there has been a reversal of positions to the disadvantage of men.” There is no question that boys face particular challenges, and do less well than girls on some indicators. We strongly concur that boys’ issues need to be addressed.
Child Initiative
The little discussion that there was on the issue of self-esteem during adolescence seemed to suggest that it was normal (“Care must be taken to balance the expected decrease in children self-esteem and parental support, as children move into full puberty.” [Ibid., p. 36]) or that more focus should be directed towards boys (“How should policies and practices in schools and other institutions be amended to accommodate the stress of early adolescence and learning? How should support for boys be different from that provided to girls?” [Ibid., p. 33]) Some conference participants noted that the Canadian Girl Child Initiative was addressing girls’ issues, and that “very little attention has been paid to how boys’ gender roles affect their health and well being.”
The Gloomy Portrait
Girls are hospitalized because of suicide attempts almost three times as often as boys. Although the suicide death rate is higher for male youth compared to female youth in the general population, the suicide rate of Aboriginal girls (age 15 to 24) is higher than for males overall in the same age group in Canada (35 deaths per
100,000 population versus 24). Girls are much more likely than boys to be
assaulted, both physically and sexually, by family members. In fact, there is overwhelming research to suggest that violence against girls is widespread and endemic in Canada. Yet, despite this gloomy portrait of girls’ lives, there is a disturbing trend emerging in the literature that suggests we should worry more about boys. The National Research Conference, Investing in Children: Ideas for Action, was held in Ottawa in 1998, as researchers and academics were interpreting the first cycle of results from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth. A major finding of this conference was that boys were at greater risk than girls:
100,000 population versus 24). Girls are much more likely than boys to be
assaulted, both physically and sexually, by family members. In fact, there is overwhelming research to suggest that violence against girls is widespread and endemic in Canada. Yet, despite this gloomy portrait of girls’ lives, there is a disturbing trend emerging in the literature that suggests we should worry more about boys. The National Research Conference, Investing in Children: Ideas for Action, was held in Ottawa in 1998, as researchers and academics were interpreting the first cycle of results from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth. A major finding of this conference was that boys were at greater risk than girls:
The Sketchier
When girls arrive at school, they are more likely than boys to do well, especially at reading and writing. Although the research on gender differences among the pre-teen age group is sketchier, what exists suggests that girls enjoy school more than boys. Boys are more likely than girls to repeat a grade, and are more likely to be diagnosed with hyperactivity and attention deficit disorders. From birth, more boys than girls have a disability, until around age 15, when the percentage of young women with a disability becomes slightly higher than the rate among young men. Starting around grade six, a greater proportion of girls than boys begins to skip breakfast, and starts to diet or feel that they need to lose weight. Girls consistently report lower self-esteem than boys. The proportion of young people who feel “very happy” with their life declines steadily between grades six and 10, and at every age group, girls are less happy than boys. Girls are far more likely than boys to indicate dissatisfaction with their body, and to report loneliness. The prevalence of depressive disorders among girls aged 15 to 19 years old is twice as high as among boys in the same age group.
