Poverty and health

This article is an examination of the pressures women are under to conform to an unattainable standard of beauty and the double impact this has on women with disabilities. 

This article explores the topic of women and social assistance. Gives statistics regarding the feminization of poverty,  points to the barriers within the system to achieve full social and economic participation of all women. 

This article explores the ways in which feminist approaches to theorizing and strategizing about violence has shifted over the years. Focus on violence and health. 

Explains ‘nutrition transition’ – major changes in diet and physical activity – a phenomenon underlying the rising rates of obesity in the developing world.

Network article that discusses the results of the study The Food Insecurity-Obesity Paradox as a Vicious Cycle for Women: A Qualitative Study by the Atlantic Centre of Excellence for Women's Health. The study investigated the links between moderate food insecurity, overweight/obesity and chronic disease for women in Atlantic Canada, especially those in marginalized and vulnerable populations. 

Results of the annual poll that measures public opinion with respect to the health of the Canadian health care system. Found that the growing disparity in income in Canada has also meant a growing disparity in Canadians' perceptions of their health. In this report, higher income respondents were 29 percentage points more likely to describe their health as excellent or very good in comparison to lower income respondents. In 2009, the gap between the two groups was 17 points.

Explores whether women and men (girls and boys) have the same experiences of material and social deprivation and of health, and how these similarities or differences are accounted for in terms of indicator development and structure. Examines the opportunities for and the limitations of one deprivation index to represent the different experiences of men and of women in Canada by conducting a sex- and gender-based analysis (SGBA) of the indicators included in the index and calculating the index by sex using Statistics Canada's Census data for Vancouver, Winnipeg and Halifax. Results suggest that a deprivation index may not apply to men and women equally, and point to the need for thorough exploration of sex and gender differences associated with components of multivariate indices to ensure that they reflect the experience of men and women.

Report cards on child and family poverty stating,“Canada’s economic recovery hinges on federal leadership to pull recession victims out of the poor house and prevent Canadians from plunging into deeper poverty.” Compares most recent child and family poverty rate compared to 21 years ago, when Parliament unanimously resolved to end child poverty by 2000, and finds that 610,000 children (2008 LICO after-tax) and their families lived in poverty even before the recession hit.

A step by step guide on how to bring together small groups of women to capture their stories foster discussion of their community's issues such as women's poverty, food security and health.

In a PhotoVoice project, after training from a professional photographer, women use a disposable camera to take pictures that represent their experiences of living in poverty, and the policies and programs they would like to change or keep. The women then meet to share their pictures and talk about what the photos mean to them. Their powerful images can be showcased in public showings, to broaden awareness of the realities of living in poverty and stimulate action for just social and economic policies to improve women's lives.

An issue of Perception devoted to poverty, including articles on: Defining and re-defining poverty in Canada, Towards a National Ideal: Canada Without Poverty by 2020, Four Cornerstones of a Workable National Strategy for Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador's Action Plan to Reduce Poverty, Quebec's Law Against Poverty and Social Exclusion: An Interview with Alain Noel, "Why is it so tough to get ahead?", Using social data for success, as well as a new report on economic well-being of children in North America and an update on the Canadian Social Forum.