​“I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.” - Angela Y. Davis

The Equity, Diversity, and Public Policy initaitived explored the depths of gender inequality with Dr. Alice Evans in an enlightening fireside chat at the Munk School. Delving into the intricate interplay between gender disparities and public policy, Dr. Evans, a leading authority in gender studies, shared insights from her extensive research. From uncovering the drivers of support for gender equality to challenging conventional wisdom on unpaid care work, Dr. Evans ignites critical discourse and inspires action among students. This transformative exchange underscores the power of education in challenging norms and fostering social change, paving the way for a future where gender equality is not just a dream, but a reality for all.

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Written by Vanessa Padilla, Edited and Published by PPGR

Sharnelle Morgan

Over the last few years in Toronto, gender responsive budgeting has gained some traction. In July 2016, Toronto City Council approved a motion by Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam to incorporate a gender equity perspective in all parts of the city budget process. Six months later, in January 2017, Councillor Wong-Tam held a town hall on gender responsive budgeting to foster discussion between experts and the public about how to make programs and services more equitable. However, according to critics, the city budget passed in 2017 failed to adopt a gender sensitive budget and as such, has had unfavourable effects on women. As policy enthusiasts watched deliberations over the 2018 city budget, gender responsive budgeting was once again in the news.

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Sanya Ramnauth

Everyone in Canada should have access to clean and safe drinking water. Sadly, many of Canada’s First Nations have been denied this fundamental human right. Inadequate funding over several decades has led to contaminated and undrinkable source water in over 297 First Nations across Canada. Unlike municipalities in Canada, where drinking water is protected by provincial legislation and enforceable drinking water standards, there is no binding federal standard that holds anyone accountable for the provision of clean and safe drinking water in First Nations. This leaves First Nations drinking water in a regulatory void, with unsafe drinking water that that the federal government is grappling to address.

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Antona Christus-Ranjan

According to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, “diversity is Canada’s strength”. Canada is known as a multicultural nation that celebrates its historically diverse population. However, many people still face negative experiences and exclusion in the workplace due to their distinct backgrounds. To provide context, a diverse workforce is “made up of individuals who have an array of identities, abilities, backgrounds, cultures, skills, perspectives and experiences that are representative of Canada’s current and evolving population”. An inclusive workforce recognizes, values and fully leverages the diversity of the work environment by being fair, equitable, welcoming and respectful. It is important to promote an inclusive workforce in order to maintain a healthy work environment where workers feel welcomed and appreciated regardless of their backgrounds. This article outlines four aspects of the Canadian workforce which deserve our attention.

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Harpreet Sahota

Racism comes in different forms and it harms people in many ways. It’s when someone tells you to “go back to your country” when you’re literally standing in it, but it’s also about the power dynamics that encourage people to justify the use of those words.

The above is an example of racism at the individual level, where individuals intentionally behave in a manner that has a harmful effect on members of a race/ethnic group that is different from their own. Racism at the local or individual level perpetuates racist beliefs, attitudes, and actions and is reinforced through systemic racism: the manifestation of the racist ideologies and attitudes that unjustly promote inequality for racialized groups. Put more simply, systemic racism refers to a cycle in which powerful institutions guide the beliefs and values that inherently become part of the norm. This creates the implicit biases that result in the legitimization of policies that empower the powerful. People who aren’t directly affected by this form of racism are less likely to acknowledge how this is detrimental for minority groups and therefore more likely to continue to support existing laws and policies.

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Rebecca Dyck

Recent public allegations of sexual misconduct by powerful Hollywood players, while not exactly surprising, have sparked an open conversation about gender equity in the media industry. There are far fewer women than men in decision-making roles in the media industry, and thus women are not given an equal voice in influencing the roles written for them and stories told about them. This isn’t just a Hollywood problem, women have unequal access to decision-making roles in the Canadian media industry as well. The question remains, how can policy change this?

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A NECESSARY TOOL FOR POLICY WORK
Nora Yousefi

It has been nearly three decades since Kimberlé Crenshaw first introduced the term ‘intersectionality’ into the public lexicon. Since then its application in scholarship and activism has grown in popularity. Intersectionality explores the ways in which people of various identities distinctly experience oppression. Black feminist, Latina, queer, anti-colonial, and Indigenous scholarships have all used this concept to denote the different ways complex social processes shape the multiple dimensions of human experiences. Similarly, this approach has been extended to policy makers to better confront complex social issues.

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Harpreet Sahota

Equality is giving everyone a shoe. Equity is giving everyone a shoe that fits.
– Naheed Dosani

We often use the terms equality and equity interchangeably, and while they are related, they are not at all the same. The difference is critical to understanding how conversations about equality can lack inclusivity and disregard issues of fairness. For instance, consider recent discussions about the policing of black lives and the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. The problem with the debate is that many folks have conflated equality and equity by claiming that the slogan should be changed to “All Lives Matter,” with the idea that under the rule of law, all people deserve security of the person and justice. Of course this is true. But to focus on “equality” takes the spotlight away from the Black community, a historically marginalized group that faces additional barriers to accessing justice. Emphasizing the significance of Black lives is crucial to acknowledging how Black people have not been treated equally under “the law” and in the criminal justice system.

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