- CEIC Organization
It is evident to CCLOW from
the co-operation given them at the policy- making level of CEIC that there are
people who sincerely believe in working toward more equitable status for women
within the labor force.
However, programs and policies handed down from
above, even those containing some affirmative action, have a poor chance of
success if they are administered by men and women who have been taught - and
continue to believe - that women are inferior to men.
Another prime
example of an organizational impediment to women's program achievement is the
position of the Regional Women's Employment Co-ordinator. This position is the
most logical location for an employer education campaign. Unfortunately, the
Regional Women's Co-ordinator is restricted by a job description that would
keep an office of forty busy full time, no budget, no staff and no official
status within CEIC. She/he can be pointed to as the person "responsible for"
women and women's issues. But in fact, she/he is virtually powerless.
- Labor Market Needs Committee
In each province
there is a Labor Market Needs Committee consisting of those representatives
from federal and provincial governments concerned most closely with labor and
training. The Make-up of this committee varies from province to province. It is
at this level of decision-making that issues concerning women are considered -
often without adequate representation from women. The policies and actions of
these committees have a strong influence on the manner and spirit in which the
National Training Act is administered in each province.
- Sex-role Stereotyping
One of the reasons
women do not clamor for non-traditional jobs, and counsellors do not encourage
them to do so, is sex-role stereotyping. Sex-role stereotyping is taught to
both sexes almost from the moment of birth. Women will not begin to explore
their full potential as workers, and men will not encourage or even allow them
to do so, as long as both men and women are socialized to believe that women
cannot do or be certain things because of their gender.
Programs and
policies handed down from above, even those containing strong affirmative
action directives, have a poor chance of success if they are administered by
men and women who have been taught that girls are less; boys are more.
Sex-role stereotyping is a problem that needs to be seen as the basis
for a system that allows men to earn nearly twice as much as women, and
prevents women from seeking work or job training in a wide range of
occupations.
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