Equal Pay Day 2025: Fair wages, Safer futures
Thursday, April 10th is Equal Pay Day in Canada. This day raises awareness of the gender pay gap. Despite decades of advocacy, research, and policy changes, the gender pay gap is still a pressing issue, especially for marginalized communities. The gender pay gap refers to the difference in earnings between women and men. In Canada, women continue to earn less than men on average. According to the Canadian Women’s Foundation, for every dollar a man earns, a woman makes approximately 89 cents.
Intersectional Impact
The pay gap does not impact all women equally. Black, Hispanic, Indigenous, and disabled women face significantly lower pay than their male counterparts. Indigenous women earn about 65 cents, racialized women earn 67 cents, and women with disabilities earn just 54 cents for every dollar earned by white men (Canadian Women’s Foundation).
Unequal Pay and IPV
The wage gap has a significant impact on women and their safety and autonomy. Financial security is crucial in a survivor’s ability to leave an unsafe situation, secure housing, and provide for themselves and their children. When women are underpaid and undervalued in the workforce, their financial dependence on an abusive partner increases, presenting another barrier to leaving.
Financial abuse is a common tactic used by abusers to control their partners. This can include restricting access to money, forcing a partner into debt, or controlling finances. The gender pay gap exacerbates these challenges, leaving many survivors with fewer options for financial independence.
Equal pay and fair wages are not just matters of economic justice; they are also critical tools in the fight against intimate partner violence and gender-based violence.
