GROUP PROFILE

The 183 rural women who responded to the survey were profiled under the following headings:

1. area of residence
2. age
3. marital status
4. educational level
5. income level
6. family responsibilities
7. employment status

1. Area of residence:
   
   The counties surveyed were Antigonish, Cumberland, Digby, Colchester, Queens and Halifax County (Eastern Shore).

2. Age:
   
   Approximately 80% of the women were under the age of 50 and 20% were over 50. The median age was 38 years. (see Graph 8)

3. Marital Status:
   
   15% of the women were single, 61% were married and 24% had other status (separated, divorced or other)

4. Educational Level:
   
   35% had less than high school graduation, 19% had completed high school, 25% had post secondary or some university and 21% had completed university or done graduate work. (For the purposes of the survey G.E.D. equivalency and upgrading were considered as less than the equivalent of high school graduation.) (See Graph 10 )

5. Income Level:
   
   20% had an income level of less than $10,000, 49% had less than $20,000 total family income, 24% were in the range between $20,000 and $30,000 and 27% had an income over $30,000 with only 12% in the $40,000 or over range. (See Graph 9 )

6. Family Responsibilities:
   
   While 40% of the sample had no children at home, another 40% had children at either pre-school or elementary level and 20% had children at junior or high school level.

7. Employment Status:
   
   Nearly 70% of the women were employed