YWCA continues to push for gender equality
Around the world and across Metro Vancouver, gender equality is attracting renewed attention.
Over the last year, women have taken to the streets, to the courts and to social media to raise awareness and to seek change.
In this highly charged, but hopeful environment, and with unprecedented opportunities before us, I have the privilege of stepping into the role of CEO for YWCA Metro Vancouver, an organization with a reputation for bold, impactful leadership on the issues affecting women and families in our region.
If we want vibrant, prosperous and inclusive communities, women must be equal. We must have equitable access to resources, and be recognized for our contributions and our capacity for leadership.
And while women have made significant strides over the decades, and some rapid progress in recent years, by many measures we still have far to go. Gender-based violence still plagues our communities, with half of Canadian women experiencing at least one incident of physical or sexual violence since age 16. Women in Canada continue to earn less than men — making just 75 cents for every dollar made by a man. This gap is even wider for Indigenous, racialized and newcomer women, as well as women with disabilities.
The challenges facing women — especially single mothers — on their path to personal and economic independence are complex and interconnected.
Of course, a key issue is the cost of housing in Metro. That likely won’t surprise anyone — in the recent round of municipal elections, affordable housing was on virtually every platform in the region. But consider that woman-led households are among the lowest income group and therefore among the most challenged by the high cost of housing.
With all levels of government providing investments, we are fortunate to find ourselves in a positive policy climate for the development of affordable housing. The YWCA has stepped up to create opportunities for housing single moms and their children. We have pursued creative partnerships with the province, municipalities and developers, and landed on solutions, such as lowcost rental units on city-owned sites (above the Strathcona library, for example, and a new development above a firehall in Champlain Heights) and adjacent to other necessary services, such as child care.
The YWCA operates 11 housing communities with three developments under construction. All are rented at rates well below the market. Creating more safe, affordable housing for single mothers and their children will continue to be a priority for the YWCA. Once projects underway are completed, we will offer nearly 220 units of housing, including 45 units of transition housing for women fleeing violent relationships or escaping homelessness.
We know that a lack of access to quality, affordable child care remains a central barrier to equality for women with children. Single moms in particular can find themselves in the untenable position of not being able to find or afford the child care they need to sustain employment, pay their rent and keep their children safe. This is why so many single mothers are raising their children in poverty. In Vancouver, the average monthly cost for a child under three is $1,360, and parents are required to join a wait-list in 95 per cent of child-care facilities.
The YWCA has been a leader among advocates for universal early learning and child care for more than a decade. Kudos to the advocates and to all levels of government for recognizing the outstanding returns — both social and economic — when we invest in quality, affordable and accessible early learning and care. This new system has the potential to level the playing field for all children and enable women to support their families, put their skills and talents to work and fully participate in their communities.
Here at the YWCA we look forward to working closely with the provincial government to support the rollout of this system, and are thrilled that YWCA Emma’s, our child-care centre for the children of teen moms, has been selected as a prototype site to model what high-quality, affordable, universal child care may look like for B.C. families.
And while access to affordable housing and child care are critical, women can’t achieve independence without meaningful opportunities for economic advancement. That’s why the YWCA will continue to focus on providing opportunities for education, training and employment.
Related to economic advancement is the persistent and long-existing issue of unpaid care, which is only now beginning to be understood by the population. In Canada, women spend an average of 3.9 hours per day doing unpaid work — 56 per cent more than the 2.5 hours men spend doing the same tasks, which include chores, shopping and caring for children or adult family members. We will continue to advocate for society to recognize the value of unpaid care work.
Of course, gender equality can only be achieved when all people work together to create a more just and equitable society. In our recent Dec. 6 campaign we engaged some fantastic men and boys to share their insights and advice on how they model healthy masculinity, unlearn harmful stereotypes and show up as allies to women.
Sixty days in and I’m still learning about the YWCA. I have spoken with our gifted Indigenous staff members who are providing hope and leadership for their community and for all of us who are guests here on their traditional lands.
I have visited the housing communities where pregnant women who are caught in addiction find the shelter and support they need to give their babies the best chance for a healthy start. I have met with newcomers to Canada who are learning the ropes in their new home, connecting with jobs and with each other. I have visited the beautiful, creative space where children who have witnessed violence come for therapeutic support.
It strikes me that the road to gender equality isn’t a highway. There are many stops and byways, and a grand diversity of travellers. At this moment, we travellers benefit from the political will to support the services that back women and children, but for how long? Let’s make 2019 a year to take bold action to achieve gender equality.