The Older Women’s Network gratefully acknowledges the support of Status of Women Canada, Ontario Regional Office.

This report expresses the views and opinions of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official policy of the Government of Canada.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The Older Women’s Network (OWN) was founded in 1987 to empower older women to overcome inequalities in the home, workplace and society through:

• public discussion on issues relating to justice and security for older women;
• action to realize appropriate policies in these areas; and
• inclusion of older women in the planning of health care programs, community support programs, income support programs and affordable housing.

OWN is a provincial organization with members throughout Ontario.

Through its past projects OWN came to the conclusion that the quality of life of older women was directly related to the economic security of women in midlife, and that midlife presented one last opportunity to prepare for the economic requirements of old age.

As a result, OWN developed a proposal to Status to Women Canada for a project to examine midlife women’s economic challenges; raise public awareness about the current economic situation of midlife women in Ontario; and assist the organization in extending its network hroughout the province. The objectives were to determine the current economic realities of midlife women and to find out, from midlife women themselves, the types of changes to policy, services and programs that would best assist them in achieving economic security. The project received funding from Status of Women Canada.

During the course of the project, focus groups were conducted with women in five cities across Ontario (Sudbury, Peterborough, Kitchener-Waterloo, Hamilton and Toronto). The project was inclusive of midlife women in the 40-64 age range, from a diversity of socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. The women who participated were gracious and forthcoming, bravely sharing their personal experiences and the details of their lives.

This report describes the barriers faced by midlife women in their search for economic security, as revealed through a literature review and women’s own experiences.

Contrary to the stereotypes about midlife being a comfortable stage of life during which women can focus on personal growth and development, the findings highlight the fact that these midlife women are experiencing high levels of anxiety and vulnerability in terms of their economic situation. Midlife is a stage of transition in a woman’s development a stage of surprises, but also losses, related to health, family, relationships and work. For many women, it is the lack of control over their lives during this period - the ongoing forced obligations related to helping, supporting, and caring for their families - that prevent them from focusing on their own economic stability. The lack of government policies, programs and services to assist them makes matters worse.

The findings of a literature review highlight the fact that there is very little information available on specific issues related to the economic security of women in midlife. In fact, midlife women’s issues are not on anyone’s agenda, but they should be, given the impact that the economic status of women in midlife has on the quality of their life in old age.

RECOMMENDED STRATEGIES FOR CHANGE

Strategies for change related to policy development and community economic development were recommended by the women themselves during the focus group discussions. It was felt that such a combined approach held the best potential for supporting women in their quest for economic security.

POLICY CHANGES

Minimization of Labour Force Interruptions

1. Create a national childcare program that addresses issues of affordability and availability (i.e. accessible to women who work shifts or nights).
2. Enhance opportunities for women with children to participate in the labour market by providing employers with incentives to create "child friendly" workplaces, flexible workplaces (i.e. virtual offices, home offices, etc.) and job sharing that provides at least partial benefits.
3. Provide a drop-out program that would allow women whose labour market participation has been interrupted due to family responsibilities or has been patchy due to part-time, contract and temporary employment to "catch up" on CPP and pension plan contributions.

Income Security

1. Reform the Employment Insurance program so that contract employees can contribute and be eligible for benefits.
2. Create an "income replacement" insurance program so that self-employed women have financial supports should their businesses fail or experience slow downs.
3. Raise awareness about CPP disability provisions and self-contributions to the plan.
4. Increase the minimum wage.
5. Provide low-income earners with subsidies that could be used to acquire assets or be invested in pension or retirement plans.
6. Create "divorce insurance" programs so that women who have stayed home to raise their children aren't left without the resources needed to stabilize their lives while they are in transition.

Labour Force Participation

1. Provide drug and dental benefits for the working poor.
2. Provide supports for low-income wage earners (i.e. affordable housing, medical and dental benefits, including drugs and prescriptions, eyeglasses, hearing aids).
3. Create an "income replacement" program so that women can retain assets during times of economic difficulty.
4. Reform eligibility criteria for social assistance, as well as access and eligibility criteria for legal clinics.
5. Develop an awareness campaign to debunk the myths about the capabilities of midlife women in the work force.

COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

• Provide funding for age, gender and sector specific upgrading and retraining programs that would give women opportunities for sustainable income in today's labour market.
• Educate women in the public policy process and economics, so that they will have a better understanding of how to impact on the decision-making process of policy-makers.
• Fund women's community economic development initiatives. For example: fund workshops and programs where women can develop economic strategies that work for them; encourage and fund the development of women's collective businesses, community and co-operative enterprises.
• Fund the establishment of midlife women's resource centres, where midlife women can go to gain information about entitlement to social programs and benefits, obtain legal advice, learn about money management, pension plans and investment, network, build personal capacities and skills, and break their isolation.

At the local level, women's agencies and groups, anti-poverty organizations, community resource centres and advocacy groups/organizations can assist midlife women by helping them to develop:

1. initiatives that offer information on financial management and planning relevant to midlife women's socio-economic realities;
2. seminars that explain legal issues related to asset division, spousal pensions, etc. upon dissolution of marriage/common law relationships;
3. seminars that explain tax issues related to asset acquisition (i.e. mortgages), investments, inheritances and RRSPs;
4. common spaces where midlife women can share and discuss issues with other midlife women;
5. initiatives that provide midlife women with capacity building skills (i.e. self-advocacy and community organizing).

OLDER WOMEN’S NETWORK RECOMMENDATIONS

Older Women’s Network endorses these strategies for change recommended by the focus group participants, and supplements them with the following recommendations, which reflect those made in our 1998 project, Assessment of the Community Needs of Older Women:

That the Federal Government, as a signator to the Beijing Platform for Action, address the issue of women and poverty, and fulfill its commitments made in its Federal Plan for Gender Equality.

That inasmuch as poverty and low income among women during their earning years is strongly related to poverty in old age, and given the number of women currently in their 50’s who have low income/non-standard employment and limited pension benefits, governments should consider aspects of individual aging rather than simply population aging, and design programs and services that are conscious of gender, age, ethnicity, race and disabilities.

• That the Federal Government maintain the universality of Old Age Security.
• That caregivers of family members be allowed the same "drop-out" provisions in the Canada Pension Plan as those providing child care.
• That the Older Women’s Network:
  • work to place midlife women on the national agenda
  • continue to take part in public consultations in matters of concern to midlife and older women
  • organize a series of workshops to inform women about financial issues and their economic and social entitlements
  • provide a series of strategy sessions to determine how the Older Women’s Network can join with other seniors’ groups to protest recent changes in policies that have a negative impact on the quality of life for midlife and older women

We are fortunate to have received funding again from the Status of Women Canada for a project very different in its approach. The topic: "Economic Security of Mid-Life Women" has been facilitated in a community development framework: focus groups of diverse women, identifying their economic struggles and developing strategies for action which will work in their communities.  The style of research is what we would define as qualitative.   Key questions have been presented for discussion in Toronto, Hamilton, Peterborough, Guelph/Kitchener/Waterloo and Sudbury.  Strategies for advocacy with all levels of government have been developed as each community sees fit. Our final report documents both the common and different strategies of the different communities.  (See the Executive Summary on this page.)

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