Are women spending more time on unpaid domestic work than men in Canada?

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By Colin Lindsay

Data from the General Social Survey confirm what most working age Canadians probably already know; that is, they are working longer hours either on the job or at home on unpaid domestic chores. In 2005, for example, people between the ages of 25 and 54, the years when women and men are both most likely to be part of the paid work force and raising families, spent about 9 hours per day on all work activities, including paid and unpaid work. This compared with slightly over 8 hours per day nearly 20 years ago in 1986.

Previous releases

How do teenagers spend their days?

By Kirstin Haley

Teenagers are not sitting in front of the television all day, but they are keeping busy at other activities! The General Social Survey (GSS) collected time use data in 1986, 1992, 1998 and 2005. Time-use data examines time use over a 24 hour period on a diary day. The analysis in this fact sheet looks at time use by participation rate (number of people reporting an activity) and by the number of minutes spent on an activity. The data show that teenagers aged 15 to 19 were spending less time in front of the television but were spending more time working at a paid job and using the Internet in 2005.

How satisfied are immigrants with their personal safety?

By Colin Lindsay

Although overall, Canadians feel fairly safe, there may be groups in the population who feel less safe for reasons such as where they live, fear of discrimination or other factors. One possible measure of how well immigrants are adapting to Canadian society is how safe they feel in their new country. In particular, are they more likely to feel safe after having lived in Canada for some time or less safe than those who have arrived recently? The Canadian General Social Survey (GSS) data help us to answer these questions with data from three time periods for recent immigrants who arrived in Canada in the 5-year period prior to the respective surveys and more established immigrants who have been in the country for longer periods.

What are the trends in self-reported spousal violence in Canada?

By Jodi-Anne Brzozowski and Robyn Brazeau

Until 1993, police-reported statistics were the only national source of information on the nature and extent of spousal violence in Canada. However, it was generally recognized that relying on these data was limited because they only include incidents that come to the attention of the police. And given the "delicate" nature of these incidents, spousal violence is an offence that is often not reported to the authorities.

I do… Take two? Changes in intentions to remarry among divorced Canadians during the past 20 years

By Pascale Beaupré

About 40 years ago, marriage was very popular: most children were born to, and grew up with, married parents. That has changed. Divorce has risen sharply, common-law unions have become more and more popular, and many children are born outside of marriage. Other children at a young age see their parents divorce.

Do older Canadians have more friends now than in 1990?

By Colin Lindsay

Having few satisfying or rewarding relationships can be a particular problem among older seniors, many of whom enjoy a reduced circle of friends after retirement that can be further reduced with the death of family and friends, loss of a spouse or partner, a move to a care facility, or activity limitations due to ill health. Although having a large network of friends may be desirable, the difference between having no friends and having at least one friend can be important for reducing isolation. Data from the General Social Survey (GSS) in response to the question asking Canadians how many close friends they have indicates that fewer women in the very oldest segments of the population are reporting that they still have close friends. This issue is of particular concern among senior women because they tend to make up the majority of those in the oldest segments of the population. At the same time, a large proportion of older senior women live alone.

Canadians attend weekly religious services less than 20 years ago

By Colin Lindsay

The percentage of the Canadian population attending religious services on a regular basis has declined over the past 20 years. According to the General Social Survey (GSS), 21% of Canadians aged 15 and over reported they attended a religious service at least once a week in 2005, down from 30% in 1985.

Have patterns of living in owned versus rented dwellings changed since 1985?

By Heather Dryburgh and Michael Wendt

Between 1985 and 2006, the percentage of Canadians living in dwellings where someone in the household was the owner gradually increased from about 70% to 78%. Many different factors could have influenced this general increase, including the aging of the population and trends in home-ownership patterns for people at particular times when housing changes are common. For example, are Canadians moving into owned dwellings at a younger age, or are the growing number of older Canadians continuing to live in owned dwellings, rather than moving into rented homes.

Violent victimization in Canada

By Robyn Brazeau and Jodi-Anne Brzozowski

In 2004, as part of its General Social Survey program, Statistics Canada conducted a survey on victimization. This survey collected information on the extent and nature of self-reported criminal victimization, the impact and consequences of crime to the victim, reporting to the police and the use of informal and formal services. Similar surveys on victimization were conducted in 1999, 1993 and 1988. For the 2004 survey, interviews were conducted by telephone with about 24,000 people, aged 15 years and older living in the 10 provinces.

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