What’s happening to the men?

SARA MINOGUE

Last week, Nunatsiaq News invited five women in Iqaluit who have been successful both at school and in office settings to talk about the growing gender divide in Nunavut.

The lack of trades training was the first topic of conversation. Here’s some more of what they had to say:

• “In the mid-eighties, working for the GNWT, we kept track of casual employees for the Baffin region… there were always more women than men, both looking for work and working, including the small communities and casual positions.”

• “My brother was responsible for hiring heavy equipment officers during the construction season. He said he preferred to hire women at the time because every time the whales come in or every time the animals come by, all the men request for leave. He hired a couple of women… every time the men went off, the women would still work.”

• “To put it into perspective, this is a culmination of events due to cultural change. The big cultural change happened mostly in the ‘60s, when Inuit moved into larger centres. You see more men in political positions, that are elected, and in community councils, or the hunters and trappers associations. The women tended to hold more office-type jobs because traditionally men had more of a role to provide for the family so they liked to be out hunting. Whatever jobs that they acquired in the ‘60s and ‘70s, even before then, whether carpentry or electrical, were hands-on labour.”

• I think part of it is that the government did not recognize traditional skills, so men, over time, fell through the cracks. I think they’ve been having more of a difficult time than women because women traditionally managed the home when the male went out hunting, and the women would pass on those skills to their daughters. The eldest daughter would learn sewing first hand, down the line. While a young man would’ve been out hunting, learning skills as well, like survival. Not quite the same management skills as the women, I don’t think. Women already have the skills, which are transferable skills.”

• “There are quite a few males in the pre-employment [training at Nunavut Arctic College]. I see that they want to learn something quickly to get into a job.”

• “It seems that girls at the high school stage, and in general, are more interested in school in general. This is not only applying to the North, mind you. It’s the very topic that people in the South are talking about.”

• “[Statistics show that young girls learn to read and write more quickly.] I had to spend more time with boys when I was teaching them to read and write. Reading statistics about reading and writing… that was evident as well. Literacy skills take you further.”

• “There has to be an effort given to the young population, the same way a lot of effort has been given to women.”

• “We’re more aggressive, I think. We know what we want and we go after it.”

• “That’s what I would like to know… why aren’t men empowered? Does their pride get in the way? Women… when we know what it is we need, we go for it. I go back to adaptability.”

• “Women [who go to trade schools] are applauded. Men don’t get anything from society these days.”

• “Are you going to hold a forum with men? You should ask them these questions.”