Key Gender Equity Challenges
- Unequal distribution of caregiving responsibilities affecting workforce participation
- Persistent gender-based violence requiring comprehensive prevention and response
- Discrimination in employment, housing, and services affecting gender-diverse individuals
- Underrepresentation in leadership limiting diverse perspectives in decision-making
Advancing gender equity in Alberta requires addressing structural barriers, discrimination, and the unequal distribution of caregiving responsibilities that limit opportunity based on gender.
Barrier Analysis
| Challenge | Impact | Policy Response |
|---|---|---|
| Caregiving Distribution | Women's reduced workforce participation and advancement | Parental leave, childcare support, flexible work policies |
| Gender-Based Violence | Physical/mental health, economic participation | Prevention education, victim services, justice accountability |
| Workplace Discrimination | Pay gaps, limited advancement, hostile environments | Pay transparency, anti-discrimination enforcement |
| Service Access Barriers | Gender-diverse individuals excluded from services | Inclusive policies in healthcare, housing, public services |
Work-Family Balance
Caregiving responsibilitiesāchildcare, eldercare, household workāremain disproportionately assigned to women, limiting workforce participation and career advancement. Effective policy responses require coordinated action:
- Parental Leave: Equitable leave policies encouraging shared caregiving
- Childcare Access: Affordable, accessible childcare enabling workforce participation
- Flexible Work: Workplace policies accommodating family responsibilities for all workers
- Eldercare Support: Services reducing family caregiver burden
Gender-Based Violence
Intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and harassment create trauma affecting victims' health, economic participation, and wellbeing. Effective response requires:
- Prevention: Education programs addressing attitudes enabling violence
- Support Services: Accessible crisis response, shelter, and long-term recovery services
- Justice Response: Effective prosecution and accountability for perpetrators
- Systemic Change: Addressing cultural attitudes normalizing violence
Discrimination and Inclusion
Legal protections against gender discrimination exist but enforcement gaps persist. Transgender and gender-diverse individuals face particular barriers in employment, housing, healthcare, and public services. Creating inclusive institutions requires active identification and elimination of discriminatory practices.
Representation Gaps
Insufficient representation of women and gender-diverse people in decision-making excludes their perspectives from shaping policy, organizational direction, and community priorities. Addressing representation gaps while maintaining merit-based processes requires removing structural barriers to advancement rather than quota-based approaches.