It seems every month stands for something these days. February is Black History Month. May is ALS Awareness Month (though with the latest Ice Bucket Challenge, some may argue that August is far more suitable this year.) June is LGBT Pride Month. And in Canada, since 1992, October has been declared Women’s History Month.
The idea for 2014 is to celebrate the accomplishments of businesswomen, hence the theme “Canadian Business Women – a Growing Economic Force.” And there’s plenty of reason to do so.
Interesting Facts
Did you know that as of 2011, 15.6% of all small and medium-sized businesses in Canada were majority-owned by women? What’s more, RBC Economics reports that those female-owned businesses contributed $148 billion to the Canadian economy. These businesses are also creating much-needed jobs, to the tune of more than 1.5 million, says BMO Financial Group.
In 2007, 242,000 students graduated from universities in Canada. Sixty-one per cent of them were women. In fact, since 1991, women have accounted for the majority of university graduates in the country.
Think motherhood means an end to a career? Not so. The rate of working moms with kids under the age of 3 continues to increase. In 2009, it was 64.4%, compared to just 27.6% in 1976. Chances are the figure for 2014 will be even higher. However, when it comes to entrepreneurship, there are barriers that still need to be addressed. BMO notes that 71% of women would be interested in starting their own businesses should the opportunity present itself, and if they could find a better work/life balance.
Getting More Women Into Male-Dominated Fields
The hope with this year’s celebrations, says the Canadian Government, is to encourage more women to become entrepreneurs. But also to encourage women to become more interested and engaged in the sciences, business, technology, the trades, and natural resources.
“Women in Canada play an invaluable role in business and entrepreneurship,” says the Status of Women Canada. “But the extent and nature of their involvement, especially in our early history, are not well documented, if at all.”
Last year, women represented almost half (47.5%) of the Canadian workforce, but were still under-represented in the skilled trades and science and technology. Two years ago, women held only 30.5% of agricultural jobs. In forestry, fishing, mining, oil and gas jobs, the number was just 19%. And construction? It was even lower at a paltry 11.8%.
The figures seem to be stagnant in the IT sector as well, with women continuing to maintain about a quarter of the jobs in that field in the 10-year period between 2000 and 2010.
Indeed, in BMO’s study, the majority of women were most interested in starting businesses in food, hospitality, arts, or entertainment. Only 5% said they’d consider something in the IT field, or a skilled trade.
Why October?
It was on October 18, 1929 that women were first recognized as “persons” under Canadian law, making a giant leap towards equal rights. So it’s fitting that October would be chosen as the month to celebrate the accomplishments of the fairer sex.
Note that Canadians also celebrate the International Day of the Girl each year on October 11, which is meant to promote equal treatment and opportunities for girls in law, nutrition, health care, education, training, and freedom from violence and abuse.
For what it’s worth, March 8 is declared International Women’s Day each year as well.
Beyond these special dates, though, let’s keep the acknowledgments, encouragement, and recognition for influential women in business going all year.
Stay tuned for more details on the specific women who will be highlighted for Women’s History Month 2014.
