Full participation for all
The foundation of a thriving community is equity
For a community to thrive, it is vital all members have equal opportunities. This allows diverse perspectives to be heard and talents to be recognized, driving innovation and growth in communities. Gender equality is not a new issue; however, in London and Middlesex, data show that women are feeling more disconnected and rates of violence are rising.
Systemic barriers in essential areas of life, such as housing, health, and food security, can compound gender inequalities, just as factors like age, race, disability, and newcomer status can all impact how a person experiences gender discrimination. That means people can find their access to resources and opportunities are lacking or increasingly reduced. This exacerbates disparities and limits people’s ability to fully participate in society and the economy, and can mean they experience higher levels of violence.
Important work is being done in London and Middlesex County to improve the lives of women and gender-diverse people, including efforts to close the pay gap and increase access to affordable housing. But we need to accelerate efforts to create a gender-equal community where everyone is safe, included and empowered.
On this page:
Women in London and Middlesex are on average making less than men did 10 years prior
Reported incidents of Intimate Partner Violence decreasing across London and Middlesex
More women in Middlesex County and London are finishing postsecondary education
Young women’s connection to community is decreasing in London and Middlesex
*Photos that appear on this page have been sourced from an image library
By the Numbers
Women in London and Middlesex are on average making less than men did 10 years prior
Females in 2021 had a median income of $37,380, less than the median income of males in 2011 ($37,500).
London Census Metropolitan Area (CMA)
Source: Statistics Canada
Factors such as education, job tenure, part-time vs. full time work, public vs. private sector work, firm size, unionization rates, occupation, industry, and demographics, can only explain approximately 30 percent of the wage gap.*
*payequity.gov.on.ca
Breaking the Silence: Engaging Men in the Fight Against Sexual Violence
In recent years the conversation around sexual violence has finally started shifting to include men and the need for work to be done with men in order to prevent perpetration. This is key, because no amount of survivor support or intervention moments for young women will ultimately end sexual violence. If women alone could have ended sexual violence, well, we would have done it already. The fact of the matter is that we need men to step up. We need men to get involved. And that means inviting them into the conversation.
There are not enough safe spaces for women
Progress has been made over the past year, but there continues to be significant strain on women’s shelters. The homelessness crisis limits the resources available to support people who are escaping gender-based and sexual violence. Continued progress is needed to ensure more people can receive support.
Source: Anova
Reported incidents of Intimate Partner Violence decreasing across London and Middlesex
Between November 2022 and November 2023, 62 women and girls were among the victims of femicide in Ontario, according to the Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses (OAITH) and the University of Guelph. They define femicide as “gender-related killing of women, children and gender-diverse individuals by men that occur in Ontario” (Source: 2023-Annual-Femicide-List.pdf (oaith.ca). The City of London declared intimate partner violence an epidemic on July 25, 2023. While reports to police in London of incidents of intimate partner violence dropped in 2023 following a significant gain in 2021, the number of incidents reported police in Middlesex County has been decreasing since 2020. Of note, the data track reports to police of intimate partner violence, and not all incidents are reported. There’s a need to enhance work in London and Middlesex that is helping to reduce intimate partner violence.
Source: London Coordinating Committee to End Woman Abuse (LCCEWA) annual snapshots
Sexual violence continues to increase after historic highs
Sexual violence in London and Middlesex has increased significantly year-over-year at various points from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. While Middlesex saw a decrease year-over-year during the first year of the pandemic (2020-2021), sexual violence has increased since then.
Source: London Coordinating Committee to End Woman Abuse (LCCEWA) annual snapshots
More women in Middlesex County and London are finishing postsecondary education
Since 2011, the gap between women completing postsecondary education in London and Middlesex has closed. There has also been a significant increase in males in Middlesex County completing postsecondary education over the same time period, suggesting that education levels among people living in urban and rural areas may be evening out.
Source: 2011: Statistics Canada, National Household Survey; 2016: Statistics Canada, Census of Population; 2021: Statistics Canada, Census of Population
Young women’s connection to community is decreasing in London and Middlesex
In 2016, almost 98% of young women across London (CMA) felt a sense of belonging to their local community. By 2020, that decreased to below 83%. Of the 25 regions in Canada where this data is available, London (CMA) and Middlesex-London Health Unit saw the third and fourth biggest drop in female youth sense of belonging respectively in this time period. Over the same time, the proportion of young men who reported feeling a sense of belonging to their local community increased, suggesting gender plays a role in this change. While numbers aren't available locally beyond 2020, between 2020 and 2022 the sense of belonging among young women in Ontario is starting to increase again slowly.
Source: Statistics Canada
Want to dive deeper into the issue of Gender Equality in London and Middlesex County?
Check out our London Vital Signs Data Hub for more data.
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