Over the last decade, Canada has been characterized by the lowest poverty rates in the world. With 11.
7 percent of poor in average (CANSIM), Canada remains one of the few countries that can boast a well-developed system of social insurance and social benefits, aimed at minimizing the negative consequences of social inequality in the country. Unfortunately, Canadian authorities constantly fail to address the issues of female poverty.Statistical research suggests that females remain extremely vulnerable to social changes and require the development of specific social programs that would guarantee the stability and productivity of female communities in Canada. Female poverty prevails across all social groups.
Poverty is particularly threatening for those who are 65 and over: in this social layer, more than 15. 1 females live below the poverty line (CANSIM). On the one hand, female poverty indicates the absence of relevant social programs that would involve elder females in various social activities, improving their welfare.On the other hand, female poverty among elder implies the absence of social attachment between family members, or the absence of close younger relatives who could maintain high quality of life among elder female family members.
The number of poor unattached females ranges from 31. 9 percent among elder populations, to 34. 1 percent for the younger women (CANSIM). In this context, the whole combination of social and personal factors may contribute into the woman’s inability to cross the poverty line and to become a full member of the Canadian society.What makes women poor? Are women emotionally less stable and are more vulnerable to external social changes? Is female wellbeing impacted by the quality of family ties, and the quality of relations with close relatives and siblings? Is female poverty the direct cause of female emotionality and natural inability to cope with social issues? These questions need to be answered before we engage women into specific types of social policies to eliminate poverty risks.
Since 1994, the percentage of poor women in the Canadian society has been gradually decreasing; this change is particularly visible in female-lone unions, with almost 10% decrease over the last 14 years (CANSIM). It is very probable that we finally come to understand female social needs, and strive to satisfy them, but it is even more probable that the discussed decrease takes place in the light of the international population decrease trends that have also impacted Canada. It is not yet clear whether women perceive the benefits of various social programs, and whether these programs produce relevant social results.All these issues lack professional approach and can become the subjects of future sociological researches.
Unfortunately, statistics provides only surface vision of what happens with women as they fall beyond the poverty line. Statistics is useful for emphasizing the most problematic social areas but it hardly helps analyze the hidden social motives that make women poorer than men. Ultimately, statistics is just the first step towards understanding social implications of female poverty and the ways of minimizing it in Canada.ConclusionThe number of poor women has always exceeded that of men. Statistical research suggests that the situation is particularly threatening among elder women.
Female poverty cannot be attributed to one single factor, and extensive sociological research should provide better insight into what causes and what can prevent poverty among women, In Canada, a whole range of social programs can be developed in a way to satisfy social needs of women, but we will fail to improve the quality of women’s life in Canada, unless we are able to identify these needs.
