Chapter 12 Answers to "Test Your Knowledge" and "Questions for Critical Thought" questions

True.

False.

Studies have shown that in the developed world, women tend to bear fewer children the more education they get, the more time they spend in the paid labour force, and the higher the income they earn.

Sweden has state-funded postsecondary education and increased access to job training. The Swedish government actively promotes gender equity in the workforce and has legislated paid parental leave for both fathers and mothers. Additionally, Sweden has decreased the number of years of residency needed to apply for citizenship, giving immigrants full access to the labour market sooner.

Germany has a house rental-sharing program that matches a senior or a person with a disability with a helper who would otherwise lack affordable housing. Germany also has “multigenerational” housing projects that combine housing for the very old with daycare for the very young.

These countries include Switzerland, the Netherlands, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. Data to collect may include levels of income equality, health, safety of neighbourhoods, feelings of belonging to a community, and sources of meaning.

social housing; a targeted social housing system

assortative mating

You can compare the Canadian context to that of a less equal country. What does Canada have that the other country does not? Or in what ways does Canada perform better than the other country, and how might this increase equality? For example, Canada has a fairly strong social welfare system compared to other countries. How does this affect social inequality? You can also consider your own experiences within Canada. Do you feel that Canada is a relatively equal country, and if so, why? If you have experience in other countries, you can also compare and contrast, drawing insight on Canada’s relative success by analyzing how Canada differs from the rest of the world.

You can consider how relations differ between various countries. Exploitative relations such as colonialism and extractivism can place certain countries – usually one Global North country and one Global South country – in uneven relations with one another, where one country has greater economic control over the other. How might these relations create global inequality? You should take into account the global context, specifically how most countries operate within a global market and, therefore, are subject to global flows of trade and information. These flows might be dominated by a few countries, such as America and China. In tackling the second question, you can consider differences between the Global North and the Global South. Why are these two regions so drastically different in terms of their levels of inequality? What are some historical, economic, political, and cultural factors that might account for this?

You can consider both the limitations and the benefits of addressing social inequality as an individual nation versus as a globalized world. For example, each country is likely to have a more nuanced perspective of their own nation than the global network of nations or other nations. Therefore, countries might be best suited to managing their own social inequality. However, since most countries are connected in significant political, economic, and cultural ways, how might co-operation benefit efforts to reduce social inequality? Is a country limited in its ability to address social inequality within its own borders when it is so greatly affected by the rest of the world? You can consider the universality of the issue of social inequality, but also its nuance within each specific country’s context. While all countries may share in the issue, they might all experience it and cause it in different ways, requiring different solutions.

In learning from other countries, Canada can look towards the Nordic countries as a prime example. You can examine policies and practices that have worked in those Nordic countries and consider them in the context of how they might function within the Canadian system. While Canada can learn a lot from other countries, it still needs to apply such knowledge in a way that suits its needs. In addressing the second question, you can consider countries, especially those of the Global South, that experience much higher levels of social inequality than Canada. However, once again, it is important to understand that these countries need to apply the information that they take away from Canada to their specific context. What works for Canada could be a model for another country, but it might not work as effectively or in the same ways. You can reference Canada’s public policy, multiculturalism, development model, social services, and the like when identifying areas where Canada excels in addressing social inequality.

You should first identify the categories discussed in the chapter: income from employment; housing and transportation; daycare and early childhood education; postsecondary education; healthcare; and equality, prosperity, and happiness. Some potential barriers, listed in corresponding order, are wage gaps, access to materials, gender roles and norms, access to knowledge and capital, a lack of (or concentration of) technology within certain countries, and societal values and expectations.