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Aboriginal women face a paradox
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The situation of Aboriginal women is paradoxical. Although they have more education than Aboriginal men, they are less likely to be part of the work force. And when they work for a wage, they earn less than Aboriginal men and non-Aboriginal women.
Family status may be a factor. Fertility rates were much higher from 1996 to 2001 among Aboriginal women, at 2.6 children on average over the course of their lifetime, than among non-Aboriginal women, at 1.5 children.
Among off-reserve Aboriginal women, ‘family responsibilities’ is the most common reason for not completing a postsecondary program, while ‘pregnancy or the need to care for children’ is the most common reason for dropping out of high school. However, Aboriginal women are also more likely than Aboriginal men or other women to return to school later in life.
In 2001, Aboriginal women were twice as likely as non-Aboriginal women to be lone parents (19% versus 8%). First Nations women were more likely to be lone parents (21%) than either Inuit (17%) or Métis (16%) women. As well, lone-parent families headed by Aboriginal women tend to be larger.
In 2001, 47% of Aboriginal women were employed, compared with 56% of non-Aboriginal women and 53% of Aboriginal men.
However, employment rates do not always reflect work for which no payment is received. Work of this type is common in many Aboriginal communities, especially in rural and remote ones, where much time is spent fishing, trapping, hunting, sewing, and providing care for children. Also, seasonal work is common in many Aboriginal communities.
