It doesn't necessarily affect all women or men, for that matter the same. The answer, perhaps, lies in how these fields are valued in the work force. But we've chosen to go into those fields because this is something we like to do. It's not just a question of achieving equal numbers in all fields, Regehr says. It's important to make sure that the things women traditionally do are more valued.
Employment equity is about making sure the opportunities are there for everybody.
Pay equity is about ensuring that real value is placed on the jobs. Cheryl Nelson, a graduate student in social work at Carleton University, says students in her faculty are aware of the disparity in pay. But we've chosen to go into those fields because this is something we like to do. Nelson left a 22-year career as a financial officer in the federal government to go back to school. She says it was something she had wanted to do for a long time, but couldn't afford while she was raising her son.