here. - Canadian Women's Health Network

More documents

Recommendations

Info

TABLE 4AVERAGE INCOMES – ABORIGINAL AND ALL CANADIANSAVERAGE INCOME, 1995Male Female Gender GapAboriginal People $18,221.00 $13,305.00 26.90%All Canadians $31,117.00 $19,208.00 38.3%SOURCE: 1996 Census – Statistics Canada 94F0009XDB96001Women, Income andHealth in Manitoba14These data clearly show that Aboriginalwomen have higher poverty rates thaneither Aboriginal men or Non-Aboriginalwomen or men. Their average incomesare lower than those of Aboriginal men,or all Canadians. The average income ofAboriginal women in Canada in 1995was $17,812 lower than the averageincome of Canadian men. Put anotherway, for every dollar earned by Aboriginalwomen, Canadian men earned $2.34.These data are important to keep in mindwhen considering issues of income andhealth. Firstly, poverty among Aboriginalpeople is gendered, as it is among theCanadian population as a whole. Secondly,these lower income levels are a contributingfactor to the poor health status of Aboriginalwomen in Canada (see 5.3 below).The combined effects of racism and sexismare clearly evident in the income levels ofAboriginal women. Examining these issuesconsidering only Aboriginal status(and not gender), or gender (and notAboriginal status), will mask the truesituation of Aboriginal women. Thecombined effects of racism and sexismare clearly evident in the income levelsof Aboriginal women.Aboriginal people face additional barriers inthe labour market. As Michael Mendelsonand Ken Battle have noted:The labour market prospects facingAboriginal Canadians are muchworse than for other Canadians.Many Aboriginal people are unlikelyto find consistent employment in theirlifetime. The potential costs of highunemployment extend beyond thesocial sphere. The economic futureof a region is greatly diminished whena growing percentage of its workforceis unemployed. The threat to economicwell-being is especially grave for thePrairies. There is probably no singlemore important issue for theeconomic future of the Prairies,particularly Manitoba andSaskatchewan, than theadvancement of its Aboriginalhuman resources. 14 (emphasis added)2.4 ABORIGINAL WOMEN -KEY INFORMANT INTERVIEWSAs part of the data collection process forthis paper, interviews were held with keyinformants to discuss the connectionsbetween income and health forAboriginal women.Seven Aboriginal women participated inthese interviews. They were selectedbecause of their experience working inthe health care system, health researchexperience, and/or knowledge of Aboriginalwomen’s health. The interviews wereconducted by Angela Busch, an Aboriginal
Women, Income andHealth in Manitoba15woman with experience in the field. MsBusch also designed the questions whichwere asked of each of the interviewees,which are included as Appendix 4.The Aboriginal women who participated inthe health interviews had much to say onthe subject of Aboriginal women andpoverty. They recognized that poverty isendemic in Aboriginal communities, bothon reserves and in urban centres, andidentified that this as more so for Aboriginalwomen than men. They considered theimpact of poverty holistically, including itsmental, physical, emotional and spiritualeffects on the health of women.One of the recurring themes that aroseduring these interviews was that Aboriginalwomen tend to think in terms of theirchildren’s and families’ health, more oftenthan that of their own health. One of themajor problems identified for Aboriginalwomen was poor access to medical care.The interviewees identified the followingreasons why Aboriginal women have pooraccess to health care:■■■■for those who live in rural areas, healthcare facilities are limited or non-existent;for those in urban areas, women donot always have transportation (e.g.bus fare) or childcare readily available;racism and discrimination in the healthcare system were identified as majorproblems;Aboriginal women who do not havetreaty Indian status can not alwaysafford to pay for the prescriptions thatthey need.For those interviewed, poverty meant thatAboriginal women were unable to afford tomeet their basic needs. They saw povertyas largely responsible for poor nutrition orimproper diet, which they recognized couldlead to a multitude of health problems.They noted that poor women cannotalways afford to buy fresh foods and tendto consume food that is processed andvery high in fat, sugar, salt and nitrates.Diseases such as diabetes and heartdisease were identified as largelyattributable to poor nutrition. Improperdiet was noted as being an evengreater health issue for pregnantor nursing women.Poor housing and lack of housing were alsoidentified as key health issues for Aboriginalwomen who live in poverty. Inactivity andlack of exercise were noted as healthissues for Aboriginal women, specificallyas contributing factors to diabetes.Low educational levels were also seenas a factor contributing to poverty amongAboriginal women, since women who arenot well educated have a much lowerchance of securing well paid employment.The interviewees saw lack of education asa contributor to poor health, since womenwith low levels of education may notunderstand their own bodies andphysiology. This creates problems forthem in understanding preventative healthmeasures and knowledge of basichealthy living (e.g. four food groups).Interviewees discussed the problems facedby Aboriginal women during childbirth, andsaw these as a result of double discriminationfaced by being both Aboriginal andpoor. For example, one woman who wasinterviewed described situations whereAboriginal women had been left alonewhile in hospital, during the actual birthof their babies. This is an unacceptablestandard of care, placing both the womanand her baby at risk.Aboriginal women also identified difficultyin receiving help or instruction on breastfeedingwhen their child is first born. Onewoman commented that health careprofessionals have a tendency to assumethat Aboriginal women will not breastfeedtheir children.The interviewees noted that this typeof discrimination and mistreatment of
Page 1 and 2: WOMEN, INCOME ANDHEALTH IN MANITOBA
Page 3 and 4: TABLE OF CONTENTSPageA. EXECUTIVE S
Page 5 and 6: EXECUTIVE SUMMARYTHE LINK between p
Page 7 and 8: Women, Income andHealth in Manitoba
Page 9 and 10: B. INTRODUCTIONMuch work has been d
Page 11 and 12: Consistent with the majority of soc
Page 13: Health and Well-Being of Children i
Page 17 and 18: members of different visible minori
Page 21 and 22: 3. How has the connection between i
Page 23 and 24: E. INCOME AND THE HEALTH OF WOMEN -
Page 27 and 28: majority of British households,rega
Page 31 and 32: The following chart, based on a cha
Page 33 and 34: marsh potatoes, berries, etc. As a
Page 35 and 36: opportunities for women may beone o
Page 37 and 38: 2. Manitoba Data - Income and Healt
Page 39 and 40: CHART 3HEALTH CARE EXPENDITURES ON
Page 41 and 42: 3. What Does This Mean?As in other
Page 43 and 44: procedures. It is noteworthy that t
Page 45 and 46: 2. The Commonwealth Secretariat -Mo
Page 49 and 50: H. MAKING PUBLIC POLICY HEALTHIER F
Page 51 and 52: against women and its consequences
Page 53 and 54: 3.3 CHILD TAX BENEFITThe Government
Page 55 and 56: Household Basic Rent Rent Including
Page 57 and 58: If RHAs are open to suchcollaborati
Page 59 and 60: APPENDIX 1:SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE R
Page 63 and 64: APPENDIX 3:HEALTH SERVICE UTILIZATI
Page 65 and 66:
APPENDIX 4:INTERVIEWS WITH ABORIGIN
Page 67 and 68:
Women, Income andHealth in Manitoba
Page 69 and 70:
Page 71 and 72:
Page 73 and 74:
ELEMENT #11GENDER SENSITIVE TRAININ
Page 75 and 76:
Page 77 and 78:
ENDNOTES1. Sarlo, Christopher, “P
Page 79 and 80:
ENDNOTES (continued)45. Arber, Sara
Page 81 and 82:
ENDNOTES (continued)88. Mustard, Ca
Page 83 and 84:
REFERENCES (continued)Clarke, H.F.
Page 85 and 86:
REFERENCES (continued)Macintyre, Sa
Page 87 and 88:
REFERENCES (continued)Vancouver/Ric
show all

here. - Canadian Women's Health Network

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?