The Toronto municipal election is on Monday, October 26, and eligible voters are heading to the polls with big picture issues top of mind, including housing, transit, affordability, and safety.
Did you know that these issues are also gender equity issues? In other words, gender can influence how a person experiences housing, transit, affordability, safety, and other aspects of daily life:
These examples show that housing, transit, affordability, and safety are gender equity issues, because gender impacts individual experiences, access, and opportunities. Therefore, addressing these issues requires solutions designed with an intersectional, gendered lens.
For example, housing affordability solutions that do not consider how gender impacts access to housing are not going to work for people who experience gendered barriers to housing. When we consider that women and gender diverse people – who are more likely to experience these barriers – make up over 50% of Toronto's population, we can understand that municipal approaches that do not consider gender will not succeed, because the gendered barriers will still exist.
If we do not consider intersectionality and gender equity, then we will continue to build a city that is not functional, accessible, or safe for most of the people who live here. Women and gender diverse people will continue to face barriers to housing, transit, employment, safety, and other aspects of daily life. More broadly, this means that rates of housing precarity, homelessness, public transit use and safety, and community safety will not improve. Even with significant investments in these areas, without distinct consideration of the experiences of women and gender diverse people, progress in addressing these barriers will be limited.
This is why using an intersectional gendered lens in municipal decision making is essential. Factors such as gender, race, age, disability, immigration status, and income all shape people's experiences, access, and opportunities. For instance, racialized and newcomer women disproportionately carry the weight of low-wage care work, while trans and non-binary community members face unique safety barriers on public transit and in public spaces. Recognizing these diversities helps ensure policies, services, and investments are not only equitable but also effective in responding to all Torontonians' needs.
If we embed the principles of intersectionality and gender equity into municipal decision-making, Toronto could become a place where everyone can thrive. As a city that cares about gender equity, Toronto could have:
- Affordable public transit that runs frequently and reliably, so that everyone can get around safely, no matter the time of day.
- Safe, suitable housing that every person and family can afford.
- Affordable, high quality, child care that is close to home and offers flexible hours to support different work schedules.
- Public spaces that feel safe and welcoming for women, gender diverse people, and all children – day and night.
- Neighbourhoods with access to shade, cooling and warming spaces, flood protection, and clean air so everyone can be safe and healthy.
- Year-round access to clean and safe public washrooms, so everyone can access sanitation with dignity.
- Community services that are accessible, inclusive, and responsive to the diverse needs of our communities, including caregivers, newcomers, seniors, people with disabilities, students, and families.
- An economy that values care, where the people who care for our children, elders, loved ones, and communities are supported and fairly compensated.
And so much more!
Gender equity is about more than any one issue; it is about creating a city where everyone can live safely and access the opportunities, services, and support they need to thrive.
When you go to the polls on October 26, think about the kind of city you want to live in. What does it value, and what does it invest in?
Voting is one of the best ways to make your priorities known and shape the city you want to live in. Even if you aren't eligible to vote, you still have an important voice in your community. The outcome of this election affects us all, and everyone deserves to be engaged and heard – write to your councillor candidates, attend community events, raise awareness about the issues that matter most to you, and encourage those who can vote to vote.
Election day is Monday, October 26 and the last chance to vote in this municipal election! Find your voting location at https://myvote.toronto.ca/home.
All official voting information can be found at toronto.ca/elections.