Assumptions and GBA+

By challenging our assumptions about gender and examining what shapes the experiences of Canadian women and men, we are taking the first step to ensuring that the Canadian government does not perpetuate outmoded societal values and assumptions about gender.

Across societies, there are differences in how men and women, boys and girls experience virtually every aspect of life, including education, health, income, employment, violence and the justice system. Their experiences of these aspects of life are compounded by the gender roles – what is expected, valued and appropriate for males and females – they have been assigned.

One important aspect of GBA+ is that it can be used to address historical and social discrepancies (based on assumptions) affecting the lives of women and men.

GBA+ is a critical process for examining these discrepancies and determining whether they are a matter of choice for a particular group or the result of social and/or historical barriers or other forms of systemic discrimination.