Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-hc48f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T19:50:52.247Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Incidence of Poverty Among Seniors in Canada: Exploring the Impact of Gender, Ethnicity and Race

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Shari Brotman
Shari Brotman
Affiliation:
University of Toronto
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This article highlights the incidence of poverty amongst older persons in Canada by documenting the poverty rates among women and men from seven different ethnic groups representing both White ethnic and visible minority populations (Chinese, Aboriginal, Ukrainian, Jewish, Black, Greek and Italian ethnic ancestry). Special attention is placed on the incidence of poverty amongst older women and reasons for differential poverty rates among ethnic older women will be addressed. An attempt is made to link these issues with an agenda for gerontological research, policy and practice including addressing the need for improved services for this population.

Résumé

Cet article met en lumière l'incidence de pauvreté chez les personnes âgées au Canada en relevant les taux de pauvreté chez les femmes et les hommes provenant de sept différents groupes ethniques représentant les populations blanches ethniques et celles de minorités visibles (d'origines chinoise, autochtone, ukrainienne, juive, noire, grecque et italienne). Une attention particulière a été accordée à l'incidence de pauvreté chez les femmes âgées; on aborde également les raisons de ces taux différentiels de pauvreté chez les femmes âgées d'origine ethnique. On tente de relier ces questions à un programme de recherche gérontologique, de poUtique et de pratique, en plus de souligner le besoin de meilleurs services pour ces populations.

Keywords

AgingPovertyEthnicityWomen.Vieillissementpauvretéethnicitéfemmes.
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 17 , Issue 2 , Été/Summer 1998 , pp. 166 - 185
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1998

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aronson, J. (1992). Are we really listening? Beyond the official discourse on needs of old people. Canadian Social Work Review, 5(1), 73–87.Google Scholar
Axinn, J. (1989). Women and aging: Issues on adequacy and equity. In Garner, D. & Mercer, S. (eds.), Women as they age: Challenge, opportunity and triumph (pp. 339–362). Binghamton, New York: Haworth Press.Google Scholar
Baker, M., & Dryden, J. (1993). Families in Canadian society: An introduction (2nd ed.). Toronto, ON: McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited.Google Scholar
Barer, M., Evans, R., & Hertzman, C. (1995). Avalanche or glacier?: Health care and the demographic rhetoric. Canadian Journal on Aging, 14(2), 193–224.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boxhill, W. (1996). Conversations with.Google Scholar
Boyd, M. (1989). Immigration and income security policies in Canada: Implications for elderly immigrant women. Population Research and Policy, 8(1), 5–24.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chappell, N., Strain, L., & Blandford, A. (1986). Aging and health care: A social perspective. Toronto.ON: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.Google Scholar
Czerny, M., Swift, J., & Clarke, R. (1994). Getting started on social analysis in Canada (3rd ed.). Toronto, ON: Between the Lines Press.Google Scholar
Das Gupta, T. (1995). Families of native peoples, immigrants, and people of colour. In Mandeli, N. & Duffy, A. (eds.), Canadian families: Diversity, conflict and change (pp. 141–176). Toronto, ON: Harcourt, Brace and Company Ltd.Google Scholar
Dreiger, L., & Chappell, N. (1987). Aging and ethnicity: Toward an interface. Toronto, ON: Butterworths Press.Google Scholar
Filinson, R. (1992). Ethnic aging in Canada and the United States: A comparison of social policy. Journal of Aging Studies, 6(3), 273–287.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gee, E., & Kimball, M. (1987). Women and aging. Toronto, ON: Butterworths Press.Google Scholar
Governments of Canada-Federal, Provincial and Territorial (1996). An information paper for consultations on the Canada Pension Plan. Ottawa, ON: Department of Finance.Google Scholar
Hardy, M., & Hazelrigg, L. (1995). Gender, race/ethnicity and poverty in later life. Journal of Aging Studies, 5(1), 43–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McPherson, B. (1990). Aging as a social process: An introduction to individual and population aging (2nd ed.). Toronto, ON: Butterworths Press.Google Scholar
Messinger, H., & Powell, B. (1987). The implications of Canada's aging society on social expenditures. In Marshall, V. (ed.). Aging in Canada: Social perspectives (pp. 569–585). Markham, ON: Fitzhenry and Whiteside.Google Scholar
Minkler, M & Stone, R. (1985). The feminization of poverty and older women. The Forum, 25(4), 351–357.Google ScholarPubMed
Myles, J., & Street, D. (1995). Should the economic life course be redesigned? Old age security in a time of transition. Canadian Journal on Aging, 14(2), 335–359.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
National Council of Welfare. (1996). Poverty profile 1994. Ottawa, ON: Ministry of Supplies and Services Canada.Google Scholar
Neysmith, S. (1987). Social policy implications of an aging society. In Marshall, V. (ed.). Aging in Canada: Social perspectives (pp. 586–597). Markham, ON: Fitzhenry and Whiteside.Google Scholar
Ozawa, M. (1995). The economic status of older women. Social Work, 40(3), 323–333.Google Scholar
Rittner, B., & Kirk, A. (1995). Health care and public transportation use by poor and frail elderly people. Social Work, 40(3), 365–374.Google ScholarPubMed
Statistics Canada. (1991). 1991 census dictionary. Ottawa, ON: Minister of Industry, Science and Technology.Google Scholar
Statistics Canada. (1993). Ethnic origin: The nation. Ottawa, ON: Minister of Industry, Science and Technology.Google Scholar
Torczyner, J., & Brotman, S. (1995). Rapid growth and transformation: Demographic challenges facing the Jewish community of Greater Toronto. Montreal, PQ: McGill University.Google Scholar
Torczyner, J., Brotman, S., Viragh, K., & Goldmann, G. (1993). Demographic challenges facing Canadian Jewry: Initial findings from the 1991 Canadian census. Montreal, PQ: McGill University.Google Scholar
Wilson-Ford, V. (1991). Poverty among black elderly women. Journal of Women and Aging, 2(4), 5–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar