Francophones in Ontario

Statistical Profile – Francophone Women in Ontario

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

In 1996, the Office of Francophone Affairs published a series of statistical profiles on Francophones in Ontario, based on the findings of Statistics Canada's 1991 Census.

The Office of Francophone Affairs has decided to publish an update, using data from the 1996 Census. This update provides a statistical overview of Francophone women in Ontario. The Office publishes three other updates: Francophones in Ontario, a more general overview, Francophone Youth, and Francophone Seniors.

Generally speaking, statistical data on Francophone women in Ontario has not changed dramatically between 1991 and 1996, and is in line with existing demographic projections.

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METHODOLOGY

This profile of Francophone women in Ontario is based on the findings of Statistics Canada's 1996 Census. Occasionally, the report refers to data taken from the 1991 Census.

The study concerns Francophone women. The Office of Francophone Affairs defines Ontario Francophones on the basis of their response to the question concerning mother tongue: What is the language first learned at home in childhood and still understood? For the purposes of this profile, "Francophone" comprises those who gave French as their sole mother tongue or as one of their mother tongues (single or multiple responses).

The study considers a number of variables, including socio-demographic characteristics, retention of mother tongue, level of schooling, labour force participation and income. Francophone women were compared to women in the general Ontario population, to highlight the differences between the two groups.

The 1996 Census used two forms. The short form (Profile 2A) was distributed to the entire population (100%) and includes one question on mother tongue. The long form (Profile 2B) was distributed to a cross-section of 20% of the population, and includes more detailed questions concerning level of schooling, income, labour force participation and so on. The data in this profile are taken only from the long form (Profile 2B).

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DEMOGRAPHY

REPRESENTATION AND REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION

According to the Censuses, between 1991 and 1996, the number of Francophone women in Ontario increased by 945. With the exception of Eastern and Central Ontario, where the number of Francophone women increased by 880 and 1,945, the number decreased throughout Ontario.

Women represent 52.4% of Ontario's Francophone population, and 51% of Ontario's general population.

Central Ontario has the highest percentage of Francophone women (54.1%), whereas Northwestern Ontario has the lowest (48.2%). Northwestern Ontario is also the only region where the proportion of women in the Francophone population is lower than in the regional population (48.2% compared to 50%).

A higher proportion of Francophone women are found in Northeastern and Eastern Ontario (25.5% and 15.1% of the female population). Elsewhere in the province, Francophone women make up 2% to 5% of the regional female population.

Although Francophone women account for only 1.8% of the female population in Central Ontario, at 64,825, they represent 23.7% of Ontario's Francophone women. The percentage of Ontario's Francophone women is higher in Eastern and Northeastern Ontario (41% and 27.2%), and lower in Northwestern and Southwestern Ontario (1.7% and 6.4%). Two-thirds of the female population are concentrated in Central Ontario (65.4%).

AGE GROUPS

In the 65 and over age group, the number of Francophone women increased from 12.9% to 14.6% between 1991 and 1996, whereas the number of women in the general population increased from 12.4% to 13.1%. As in the general population, Francophone women are under-represented in the 0-34 age group and over-represented in the other age groups. This trend is noticeable in all regions, especially in Southwestern Ontario.

There are more Francophone women seniors than men. Two-thirds of Francophones aged 75 and over are women. In the general population, women make up 61.2% of the entire 75 and over population.

MARITAL STATUS

In the Francophone 15 and over age group, one out of every four women is single (24.5%) compared to 30.7% of men. There are significant regional variations in the percentage of single or "never married" women, ranging from 15.8% in Southwestern Ontario to 28.2% in Eastern Ontario. Variations in the general population are much less pronounced, ranging from 24.2% in Southwestern Ontario to 27.3% in Northwestern Ontario.

In both the Francophone and general populations, more women than men are separated or divorced.1 Nineteen percent of Francophone women who married are currently separated or divorced, compared to 16.5% of men. In the general population, the figures are 17.1% for women and 13% for men. Central Ontario has the highest percentage of Francophone women who are separated or divorced (20.9%), whereas Northeastern Ontario has the lowest (16.3%).

There are considerably more widowed women than men. Among married Francophones,2 16.2% of women and 4.1% of men are widowed. The figures are lower in the general population: 14.3% of women compared to 3.4% of men. Southwestern Ontario has the highest percentage of Francophone widows (22.2%), and the highest percentage of Francophones aged 65 and over.

The proportion of Francophone widows increases considerably with age.3 In the 45-64 age group, 9.9% are widows. This figure jumps to 41.2% in the 65-74 age group and 72.3% in the 75-and-over group. In the general population, 35.9% of women aged 65-74 and 68.7% of women aged 75 and over are widows. More women are widowed in the Francophone population than in the general population.

1. Among Ontarians who were already married, excluding those who were widowed.

2. Among Ontarians who were already married, excluding those who were divorced.

3. Idem

FAMILY STATUS

One Francophone family out of 10 is a single-parent family (10.1%). This figure is higher in the general population (14.4%). The percentage of Francophone single-parent families increased from 9.5% to 10.1% between 1991 and 1996. This trend also holds true in the general population (12.6% in 1991 compared to 14.4% in 1996).

Most single-parent families are headed by a woman; 82.6% of Francophone single-parent families are headed by a woman. In the general population, the figure is 84.2%.

In the 15-and-over age group, women are more likely to live in a non-family household than men. A non-family household includes people living alone or with relatives or non-relatives who do not constitute a family according to the Census;4 19.8% of Francophone women live in a non-family household, compared to 17.3% of men. The percentage of women living in a non-family household is higher in the Francophone population than in the general population (19.8% compared to 16.3%). In 1991, 19.4% of Francophone women fell into this category, compared to 17.4% of the female population in general.

Southwestern Ontario has the highest percentage of Francophone women living in a non-family household (23.9%), and Northeastern Ontario has the lowest (16.4%).

The percentage of Francophone women living in a non-family household is noticeably higher in the 65 and over age group: 48.4%. This figure is twice as high as the figure for Francophone women in general aged 15 and over (19.8%).

4. Excluding households in which at least one person is living with a spouse or partner, and households in which at least one person is living with an unmarried child or children (see glossary).

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LANGUAGE RETENTION

LANGUAGE USED AT HOME

Mother tongue retention is determined by comparing the number of those who use French at home with the number whose mother tongue is French. Across the province, three out of five Francophone women use French at home (58.9%). The rate is similar for Francophone men.

As with the Francophone population in general, Francophone women's rate of retention is higher in Eastern Ontario (71.2%) and Northeastern Ontario (69.5%), regions which boast larger concentrations of Francophones. Retention rates are remarkably lower in Southwestern Ontario (30.7%) and Central Ontario (34.6%). The percentage of Francophone women who speak French at home decreased in all regions between 1991 and 1996, especially in Northeastern Ontario.

RETENTION OF MOTHER TONGUE AMONG CHILDREN

Francophone mothers play a crucial role in the retention of the French language. When both parents' mother tongue is French, 93.3% of children retain French as their mother tongue. When only the mother speaks French as her mother tongue, 32.5% of children retain French as their mother tongue. When only the father speaks French as his mother tongue, this figure drops to 14.3%.

"HUSBAND-AND-WIFE" FAMILIES

In "husband-and-wife" families with at least one Francophone partner, 39.3% consist of two Francophones; in 32.3% of couples, the husband's mother tongue is not French; and in 28.4% of cases, the wife's mother tongue is not French.1

1. Persons for whom French is the sole mother tongue (single responses).

In 1991, both partners were Francophone in 45.7% of Francophone families, compared to 39.3% in 1996. Therefore, linguistic intermarriage has increased, which is one factor in the decreased retention of the French language among children.

SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES

A relatively large number of Francophone women who are heads of single-parent families do not speak French at home (46%). Consequently, language transfer occurs in only 54% of single-parent families headed by a woman.2 The rate of language transfer is highest in Eastern and Northeastern Ontario, and lowest in Central and Southwestern Ontario.

In all regions, the rate of French language transfer is higher in single-parent families headed by women than in those headed by men (54% and 48.7% respectively). This discrepancy is most noticeable in Eastern Ontario.3

The percentage of Francophone women who are heads of single-parent families and who use French at home increased slightly between 1991 and 1996 (from 53.2% to 54%) in all regions except Northeastern Ontario, where it decreased from 63.6% to 60.9%.

2. Where French is the only language or one of the languages used at home.
3. Except for Northwestern Ontario, which has relatively few single-parent families headed by Francophone men.

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EDUCATION

LEVEL OF EDUCATION

As with the Francophone population as a whole, Francophone women have less schooling than the female population in general in Ontario. Less than Grade 9

Fifteen percent of Francophone women have less than a Grade 9 education, compared to 10.6% of the female population in general. This trend holds true for all regions. The largest percentage of Francophone women with less than a Grade 9 education is in Southwestern Ontario (20.6%); the smallest is in Central Ontario (12.3%).

Across Ontario, the percentage of Francophone women and men with less than a Grade 9 education are similar (15% compared to 15.4%), but there are pronounced regional variations. More Francophone women than men have less than a Grade 9 education in Southwestern and Eastern Ontario, but fewer women than men have less than a Grade 9 education in the other regions, especially Northwestern Ontario, where there is a relatively large gap between genders.

High School Diploma

As with Francophone men, fewer Francophone women have high school diplomas than women in the general population (63.3% compared to 66.6%). This holds true for all regions except Central Ontario, where 68.4% of Francophone women have at least a high school diploma, compared to 66.9% of women in the general population.

More Francophone women than men have high school diplomas (63.3% compared to 61.2%) in all regions except Southwestern Ontario.

Postsecondary Education

Among female high school graduates, fewer Francophone women pursued postsecondary education than women in the general population (74.2% compared to 76%). This holds true for all regions except Central Ontario, where 79.4% of Francophone women pursued postsecondary education compared to 76.5% of women in the general population.

Among Francophone high school graduates, fewer women pursued postsecondary education than men, in all regions.

Across Ontario, Francophone women who pursued postsecondary education are less likely to pursue a university education than women in the general population (44.1% compared to 45.7%). However, there are pronounced regional variations. In Northeastern and Northwestern Ontario, Francophone women are less likely to attend university than women in general, but the opposite holds true in the other regions.

Among Francophones who pursued postsecondary education, a relatively larger number of women attended university than men (44.1% compared to 40%) in all regions.

Between 1991 and 1996, as with the Francophone population in general, the number of Francophone women with undergraduate degrees increased in all regions, especially in Central Ontario, where it increased from 12.7% to 16%.

Fewer Francophone women are university graduates than women in the general population (12.4% compared to 13.8%) in every region except Central Ontario, where the opposite is true (16% versus 14.6%).

There are more Francophone women than men with undergraduate or graduate degrees in Northeastern, Northwestern and Southwestern Ontario, whereas the opposite is true in other regions.

Among women who attended university, slightly more Francophone women than women in the general population obtained an undergraduate degree (60.1% compared to 59.6%), but fewer Francophone women than men obtained a degree (60.1% compared to 61.9%).

Graduate Studies

The number of Francophone women with undergraduate degrees who pursued graduate studies decreased between 1991 and 1996 in all regions except Northwestern Ontario, where it increased from 22.2% to 29.1%.

More Francophone women with undergraduate degrees pursued graduate studies than women in the general population (31.8% compared to 30.2%). However, notably fewer Francophone women than men pursued graduate studies in all regions.

MAJOR FIELDS OF STUDY

Between 1991 and 1996, the percentage of Francophone women with a postsecondary certificate or degree who majored in social sciences increased from 8.9% to 10.9%. There was a similar increase among the female population in general (from 10.7% to 12%).

More than one out of four Francophone women majored in commerce, business management or business administration (27.6%), compared to 26.9% of women in general.

Compared to the female population in general, Francophone women are more concentrated in education (18.1% compared to 14.5%) and literature and the humanities (8.8% compared to 7.7%). However, they are under-represented in social sciences (10.9% compared to 12%), agricultural and biological science and technologies (3% compared to 4.1%) and the health professions (17.2% compared to 18.8%).

In both the Francophone and the general population, there are many more women than men in health, education, commerce and business management and administration, whereas there are more men than women in mathematics, physical sciences, engineering and applied sciences.

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LABOUR FORCE

PARTICIPATION

Francophone women have a lower labour force participation rate than women in general (57.8% compared to 60%). They also have a lower participation rate than Francophone men (57.8% compared to 70.5%). This holds true for women of the general population as well (60% compared to 73%).

The greatest difference between the participation rates of Francophone women and women in general is in Southwestern Ontario (49.7% compared to 59.6%). Central Ontario is the only region where Francophone women

have a higher labour force participation rate than women in general (62.1% compared to 60.5%).

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

Francophone women have a slightly lower unemployment rate than women in general (9.2% compared to 9.6% ), and a slightly lower rate than Francophone men (9.2% compared to 9.6%).

Francophone women have a lower unemployment rate than women in general in all regions except Southwestern Ontario, where the rate is 9.7% compared to 8.9% in the general female population. There are significant regional differences in the unemployment rate. The lowest rate for Francophone women occurs in Central Ontario (8.1%); the highest occurs in Northeastern Ontario (11.3%).

OCCUPATIONS

Most Francophone women work in sales, and skilled administrative and business occupations (59.8%). More than one out of ten Francophone women are in professional occupations in social science, education, government services and religion (10.8%).

Overall, Francophone women are concentrated in the same occupational categories as women in general. However, there are noticeable differences in the levels of concentration in professional occupations in social science, education, government services and religion (10.8% compared to 7.7%) and skilled administrative and business occupations (12.2% compared to 10.8%).

Between 1991 and 1996, the percentage of both women in general and Francophone women in skilled administrative and business occupations dropped from 13% to 10.8%, and from 14.7% to 12.2% respectively. However, the percentage working in sales and service occupations increased from 28% to 29.8% for Francophone women, and from 28.8% to 31% for women in general.

INDUSTRIAL DIVISIONS

The percentage of Francophone women in government services decreased considerably between 1991 and 1996 (from 15.5% to 12.2%), as it did among women in general (from 7.3% to 5.4%).

However, the percentage of Francophone women working in the health care and social services sector increased during the same period (from 14.3% to 16.8%), as it did among women in general (from 15% to 16.8%).

Overall, Francophone women are concentrated in the same industrial sectors as the female population as a whole, although there are some significant differences. Francophone women are over-represented in government services (12.2% compared to 5.4%) and education (13.5% compared to 9.5%), but under-represented in manufacturing (6.7% compared to 10.9%), retailing (12% compared to 13.7%) and business services (5.8% compared to 7.4%).

There are more Francophone women in government services in Eastern Ontario than in other regions (20.4%). Southwestern Ontario has the highest percentage of Francophone women in the agricultural (4.6%) and manufacturing sectors (12.9%). Northeastern Ontario has the highest percentage of Francophone women in the health care and social services (20.6%) and retailing sectors (17.3%). Northwestern Ontario has the highest percentage of Francophone women in accommodation and food services (15.5%). Central Ontario has a more even-handed distribution of Francophone women in the various sectors than the other regions.

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INCOME

EMPLOYMENT INCOME

Level of Income

In comparison to their male counterparts, both Francophone women and women in general are under-represented in the under $30,000 categories and over-represented in the $30,000 or more categories.

However, fewer Francophone women than women in the general population earn less than $30,000 per year (65.6% compared to 70.4%) and more earn $30,000-$70,000 per year (32.6% compared to 27.7%). The percentage of Francophone women who earn more than $70,000 per year is similar to the percentage of women in the general population (1.8% compared to 1.9%).

Average Income

In all regions, the average employment income of Francophone women is higher than that of women in the general population ($23,710 compared to $22,180). The largest gap occurs in Central Ontario ($26,681 compared to $23,013), the region where the average employment income of Francophone women is highest. It is lowest in Northeastern Ontario.

The salary gap is smaller between Francophone men and women than between men and women in the general population. The average employment income of Francophone women is 68% of the income of Francophone men ($23,710 compared to $35,002). In the general population, women earn, on average, 64% of what men earn ($22,188 compared to $34,726).

TOTAL INCOME

As with employment income, total average income per capita is higher for Francophone women than for women in general ($21,509 compared to $21,048), but their average income is nearly two-thirds that of Francophone men ($21,509 compared to $32,915). There is a similar gender ratio in the general population. On average, women in Ontario earn 63% of what men earn ($21,048 compared to $33,599).

Francophone women's total average income is highest in Central Ontario ($24,067) and lowest in Northeastern Ontario ($17,823). Their total average income is higher than that of women in general in Eastern and Northwestern Ontario, but particularly in Central Ontario ($24,067 compared to $21,603). In the other regions, their income is similar to that of women in general.

FAMILY INCOME

Unlike their employment income and total income per capita, Francophone women's average family income is lower than that of women in the general population ($61,569 compared to $62,553), but only in Southwestern Ontario. Their average family income is higher than that of women in general in Northwestern Ontario, and particularly in Central Ontario. In other regions, Francophone women's average family income is relatively similar to that of Ontario women in general.

From a regional perspective, Francophone women's average family income is highest in Central Ontario ($68,344) and lowest in Northeastern Ontario ($55,303).

LOW INCOME CUT-OFF

The percentage of Francophone women living below the low income cut-off is slightly lower than the percentage of women in the general population (18.3% compared to 19.1%). The percentage is lower in Central and Northeastern Ontario, but higher in Southwestern Ontario. In the other regions, the percentage is similar to that for women in the general population. Northeastern Ontario has the highest percentage of Francophone women below the low income cut-off; Northwestern Ontario has the lowest.

The percentage of Francophone women living below the low income cut-off is lower than that of women in the general population in most age groups, except for those aged 20-24 and 45 and over.

In all regions, there is a substantially higher percentage of Francophone women living below the low income cut-off than Francophone men (18.3% compared to 15.2%). This is the case in the general population as well.

As shown in Table 17, the percentage of women below the low income cut-off varies with age. The most vulnerable Francophone women are in the 20-24 age group (30.7%) and the 75 and over group (33.5%). The greatest discrepancies between Francophone men and women occur in these age groups as well: 22.7% of Francophone men aged 20-24 and 11.5% of men aged 75 and over are living below the low income cut-off.

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GLOSSARY & TECHNICAL NOTES

DEFINITIONS

From 1996 Statistics Canada Census Dictionary and Statistics Canada Census Consultation Guide.

Average Income
The average income refers to the mean income of individuals 15 years of age and over who reported income for 1995. Average income is calculated by dividing the aggregate income of a specified group of individuals by the number of individuals with income in that group.

Census Family
A census family refers to a now-married couple (with or without never-married sons and/or daughters of either or both spouses), a couple living common-law (with or without never-married sons and/or daughters of either or both partners), or a lone parent of any marital status, with at least one never-married son or daughter living in the same dwelling.

Census Family Income
The total income of a census family is the sum of the total incomes of all members of the family 15 years of age and over during the 1995 calendar year. The income includes wages and salaries, net farm income from self-employment, net non-farm income from an unincorporated business and/or professional practice, government transfer payments, investment income, retirement pensions, superannuation and annuities and other money income (2B variable).

Employment Income
Employment income refers to the total income received by persons 15 years of age and over during the 1995 calendar year as wages and salaries, net income from a non-farm unincorporated business and/or professional practice and net farm self-employment income (2B variable).

Experienced Labour Force
Experienced labour force refers to persons 15 years of age and over who were employed or unemployed during the week (Sunday to Saturday) prior to Census Day, and who had last worked for pay or self-employment in either 1995 or in 1996 (2B variable). The experienced labour force is a subgroup which is frequently used when tabulating occupation and industry data.

Francophone Population
Francophones are defined by the mother tongue Census question: What was the language first learned at home in childhood and still understood? In this document, Francophones include persons with French as their mother tongue or as one of their mother tongues (French single and multiple responses). Data from the short form (Profile 2A) may not match data from the long form (Profile 2B). For its analysis of the Francophone population as a whole, the Office of Francophone Affairs used data from the short form that was distributed to 100% of the Ontario population. Socio-economic data on the Francophone population was taken from Form 2B. Statistical data from the 1996 Census that is published in the media is usually based on data obtained from Form 2B.

Home Language
Home language refers to the language most frequently spoken at home by the individual at the time of the census (2B variable).

Incidence of Low-Income / Low Income Cut-Off
The incidence of low income is the proportion or percentage of the population in private households with income lower or equal to the low income cut-off. Family size and degree of urbanization are factors taken into consideration in the determination of low-income cut-offs.

Industrial Divisions
Industry (based on 1980 standard industrial classification) refers to the general nature of the business carried out in the establishment where the person worked, as indicated by the name of the employer and the kind of business, industry or service (2B variable).

Labour Force
Labour force refers to persons 15 years of age and over who were employed or unemployed during the week (Sunday to Saturday) prior to Census Day. Employed persons include those who did any work for pay or in self-employment. Unemployed persons include those who had actively looked for work in the past four weeks, persons who were on temporary lay-off and expected to return to their job and persons who had definite arrangements to start a new job in four weeks or less.

Levels of Schooling
Highest level of schooling refers to the highest grade or year of elementary or secondary school completed, or the highest year of university or other non-university completed. The completion of a degree, certificate or diploma is considered to be at a higher level than years completed without an educational qualification. It is a 2B variable, reported for the population 15 years of age and over.

Major Field of Study
Major field of study refers to the predominant discipline or area of learning or training of a person's highest postsecondary degree, certificate or diploma (2B variable).

Marital Status
Marital status refers to the legal conjugal status of a person (2A variable, reported for the entire population). In 1996, persons in common-law unions are included in the "Now married" category.

Mother Tongue
Mother tongue refers to the first language learned at home in childhood and still understood by the individual at the time of the Census (2A variable). In the 2B questionnaire, the mother tongue question was asked after the three other questions on language.

Non-Family Household
A non-family household consists of either one person living alone in a private dwelling, or a group of two or more persons who share a private dwelling but are not a family according to the Census. It includes households composed of persons who may be relatives or non-relatives, but do not constitute a family according to the Census, thereby excluding households of at least one person living with a spouse or partner, and households of at least one person living with his or her unmarried child(ren).

Occupation
Occupation refers to the kind of work persons were doing during the reference week, as determined by the kind of work and the description of the most important duties in their job (2B variable). The 1996 occupation data is produced according to the 1991 Standard Occupational Classification, which comprises 10 broad occupational categories.

Participation Rate
Participation rate refers to the total labour force in the week (Sunday to Saturday) prior to Census Day, expressed as a percentage of the population 15 years of age and over (2B variable).

Single-parent Family
A single-parent family is led by a mother or father, with no spouse or common-law partner present, living in a dwelling with one or more never-married sons and/or daughters (2B, Census Family Status variable).

Total Individual Income
Total individual income refers to the total money received from the following sources during the 1995 calendar year by persons 15 years of age and over: total wages and salaries, net income from an unincorporated non-farm business and/or professional practice, net farm self-employment income, government transfer payments (Old Age Security pension and Guaranteed Income Supplement, Canada Pension Plan and Quebec Pension Plan benefits, Unemployment Insurance benefits, Federal Child Tax benefits, other income from government sources), investment income (dividends, interest and other investment income), retirement pensions, superannuation and annuities and other money income (2B variable).

Unemployment Rate
The unemployment rate refers to the unemployed labour force expressed as a percentage of the total labour force in the week (Sunday to Saturday) prior to Census Day (2B variable).

Wife-Husband Families
Wife and husband refer to persons of different sex who are legally married to each other and living in the same dwelling (2B, Census Family Status variable).

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To request a copy of this document contact:
Office of Francophone Affairs
Government of Ontario
777 Bay Street, 6th floor
Toronto, Ontario  M7A 2J4

Questions regarding the document, please phone
416 325-4949 or 1 800 268-7507 toll-free
416 325-0017 TTY
E-mail: ofa@ontario.ca
Fax: 416 325-4980
Web: www.ofa.gov.on.ca
ISBN: 0-7778-9057-7

Copyright Agreement
Any quotation from this data must include a reference to the Office of Francophone Affairs and Statistics Canada as the data source. This document or excerpts from this document can be copied but are not to be sold.
October 1999

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