Maternity Leave Evolution: an example of GBA+ integration
The GBA+-integrated option:
- provides flexibility to respond simultaneously to the needs of diverse population groups; and,
- balances competing government priorities with diverse population needs.
One of the most effective examples of a
GBA+-integrated option in Canada is the evolution of maternity leave. Based on societal norms, attitudes and expectations, it went through multiple iterations of GBA+ integration, and now extends to parental and adoption leaves.
Explore this timeline, by selecting the dates, to see what realities were taken into consideration and how each decision would have affected Joseph and Marco.
1940 - No Maternity Leave Benefits
In 1940, the Unemployment Insurance Act was introduced in Canada. It did not cover maternity leave in its early decades.
1971 - Maternity Leave introduced
Amendment:
- Unemployment Insurance Act amendments allowed some women, depending on their work history, 15 weeks of maternity leave benefit.
This amendment demonstrates GBA+-integration, as it:
- recognized the increasing number of women in the workforce; and,
- addressed some changing societal expectations about balancing childcare and career.
However, based on the societal expectation for women to be primary caregivers, and also for parents to be heterosexual, it was assumed that only women would want to take leave to care for their children.
What does this mean for Joseph and Marco?
- as adoptive fathers Joseph and Marco would not be eligible for paid leave, regardless of their sexual orientation; and,
- to provide care, they would either have to take an unpaid leave of absence or resign from employment.
1984 - Adoption Leave added to Maternity Leave Benefits
Amendments:
- maternity benefits were modified and extended to include adoptive parents; and,
- with this modification, adoptive and birth mothers received the same 15 weeks of benefits.
This amendment demonstrates GBA+-integration as it:
- recognizes the rights of adoptive mothers to the same benefits as birth mothers.
However, it was again assumed that among heterosexual couples in Canada, both natural and adoptive mothers would be responsible for taking leave to care for children. The program perpetuated stereotypical gender roles by providing leave benefits to mothers and not to fathers.
What does this mean for Joseph and Marco?
- the extension to adoption leave would not benefit Joseph and Marco as a homosexual male couple because they would not qualify under the 'adoptive mother' clause.
1990 - Maternity, Adoption and Parental Leave Benefits
Amendments:
- 10 weeks of parental leave was added to EI benefits, available to birth fathers and adoptive mothers and fathers; and,
- maternity leave was made available to birth mothers only; adoptive mothers became ineligible for maternity leave as they now qualified for parental leave.
This amendment demonstrates GBA+-integration as it increased recognition of men's role as caregivers; however, the uptake of parental leave by fathers was only 3%.
What does this mean for Joseph and Marco?
- either Joseph or Marco would be able to take parental leave for adoptive parents and provide 10 weeks care to their child.
2001 - Parental Leave extended
Amendment:
- parental leave was extended from 10 weeks to 35 weeks for males and females.
This amendment demonstrates GBA+-integration as it:
- shows even greater acknowledgement of fathers' responsibilities at home, beyond the traditional model; and,
- resulted in a 10% increase in the number of fathers taking parental leave, although women continued to predominate as the main caregivers.
What does this mean for Joseph and Marco?
- as adoptive parents, Joseph and Marco are able to give their child eight months of parental care.
Today
Today birth and adoptive parents in Canada, regardless if they are men or women, married or not, gay or straight, have access to parental leave as long as they meet specific criteria concerning their employment situation. In 2010, almost 30% of fathers took parental leave.
This example shows that by integrating GBA+ into policy making, a policy originally designed only for working mothers who had given birth can be updated and adapted to include other dimensions of the population. In the process, GBA+ challenges the assumptions (and resulting policies) that only mothers provide early child care and that only birth parents require time off with benefits to care for their children. Ultimately, it recognizes shifting gender roles and expectations that promote greater equality between the diversity of Canadian women and men.
In practice, there are still some societal values and attitudes that influence institutional acceptance and practice around gender roles. For example, although uptake of parental leave by fathers is now approximately 30%, women still represent the majority of those taking parental leave.
