Gender Equality in North America

571 Words2 Pages

Since time memorial men have always been the providers for their families, while the women have always been the caretakers of their families. For this reason, traditional gender roles have developed for women and men. Women being seen as soft, gentle, and belonging only in the kitchen and taking care of her husband. Whereas, men would be seen as strong, never crying, providers of their families and the ones who make the decisions and the ones to hold power in society. However, coming into the 21st century a lot has changed, women are starting climb up the ladder in society and not having to rely on there male counter parts. In a country like North America women are getting the same opportunities in society and this is creating gender equality. North America would not be a better place if women were the only ones to be in charge of North America, for this would just perpetuate the gender inequality for men creating gender chaos. North America makes both women and men equal because of our laws. Section 15 of Canada’s Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, states that every individual in Canada is equal before and under the law and also has the right to equal benefit and protection of the law without any discrimination (O’Donnell, ?, p. 2). Even though, the charter has given the people in Canada the same legal equality of outcome, it also doesn’t just give male and females the same equality of opportunity but also the same equality of outcome of the law (O’Donnell, ?, p.2). These rights in section 15 also flow into the Domestic Human Rights legislation making equality of outcome and opportunity available for areas like employment, public services, tenancy and purchase of property (O’Donnell, ?, P.2). Women are also now given equal opportunities in North America. Although, some may argue that women are still not getting equal opportunity in the workplace as men and that women are not getting equal pay for equal value of their work, the laws and the policy in place are changing this reality. The way that laws and policies are changing this reality is by promoting gender equality in relation to employment within the labour market to ensure that there have been the same improvements economically, socially and politically in the workforce that have been made in North American law (International Labour Office, 2010, p. xii).

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