Research in Brief
Attitudes Regarding Gender Equality and Gender-Based Violence in Canada

This brief is based on the report entitled: Attitudes Regarding Gender Equality and Gender-Based Violence in Canada by Environics Research^{Footnote 1}, prepared for Women and Gender.

Background

Gender-based violence is violence based on gender norms and unequal power dynamics perpetrated against someone based on their gender, gender expression, gender identity, or perceived gender^{Footnote 2}. This research focuses on attitudes towards gender roles and norms, sexual diversity, gender identity and expression, gender equality and equity, as well as gender-based violence. The study was requested by WAGE to better understand the attitudes of people living in Canada on several issues related to gender equality and gender-based violence.

Method

This public opinion research was conducted through a random-probability telephone survey with 3,033 people in Canada aged 16 and older from May 22 to June 27, 2019. The sample included a mix of landlines and cellphone numbers. Additionally, an online survey with 1,040 respondents in Canada aged 16 and older, was conducted from May 29 to June 10, 2019. Participants were recruited via an online panel, and quotas were set to ensure the sample was generally representative of the Canadian population, aged 16 and over, by age and gender. The survey (by phone and online) was conducted in all provinces and territories. The key findings presented in the report are based only on the data collected through the telephone survey.

Key Findings

Results from this research indicate that while most people in Canada share progressive views about gender-related issues, many people still hold traditional gender biases. For example, 26% say men are better at learning the trades, and 30% say women are better at caregiving skills. Often, people who hold progressive views on other issues, such as immigration and what constitutes a family, will also have progressive views about gender-related issues.

Key findings indicate that people in Canada generally share progressive views on gender roles and norms: 

• 83% agree that men should take parental leave when they have young children
• 64% disagree that families suffer when women work full-time
• Most people think there is no difference between men and women in their suitability for leadership positions, such as the head of a major corporation (93%), leader of a political party (92%) or a police officer (82%)
• 89% of respondents believe that women and men are equally good at learning skills related to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics)

Key findings about the factors contributing to gender inequality:

• 76% believe there is discrimination in the recruitment and hiring process
• Women are more likely than men to cite hostile work environments and cultures (56% vs. 44%) and discrimination in the recruitment and hiring process (50% vs. 33%) as major reasons for the under-representation of women in certain jobs/industries
• 69% agree that society undervalues women’s work
• 79% agree that women need to do more than men to prove themselves as capable leaders
• 77% disagree with the assertion that men are more effective than women in positions of power because they are less emotional
• 40% agree with the statement that women become less likeable when taking on leadership roles, but only three in ten (31%) agree that men become less likeable.

Because of long-held understandings of sex and gender identity, respondents were generally more comfortable with and accepting of lesbian, gay and bisexual people than transgender or gender non-conforming people:

• 6 in 10 believe that a person’s gender can be different from the sex assigned at birth
• About half the respondents agree that a person’s gender can be other than man or woman
• 86-88% of people say they would be comfortable with a lesbian, gay or bisexual schoolteacher, compared to 80% who would be comfortable with a transgender schoolteacher
• 61% agree that violence against transgender people is a problem in Canada

Key findings on the issue of violence against women and girls:

• 79% of people believe that violence against women and girls in Canada is somewhat or very common
• 77% of people believe that sexual assaults happen more often than people think
• 97% of people believe that friends or neighbours should report domestic violence
• 84% of people believe that it is up to men to ensure there is always consent before engaging in sexual activity to prevent sexual assault

Policy and Program Implications

Since achieving gender equality, as well as preventing and addressing gender-based violence, requires a cultural shift and the participation of all members of society, understanding our baseline attitudes regarding gender will help develop an important frame of reference for future work. These public opinion research results will lend support to the Government of Canada in its commitment to evidence-informed policy and decision-making to address gender equality and gender-based violence.