Black Families and Socio-economic Inequality in Canada

Abstract

There have been virtually no recent census-based studies on the familial characteristics of black Canadians. The present study is a partial replication and extension of a study on black families published two decades ago by Christensen and Weinfeld (1993) and based on the 1986 Canadian census. The present paper utilizes the 2006 census in order to examine the current conditions of black families in Canada and assess what has changed since 1986 in the composition, marital status, and income of these families. Findings indicate that black families are more culturally heterogeneous than ever. Despite this, racial disparities in family formation and household income have only accentuated since 1986, bearing unique consequences for native and foreign-born black men and women. On the whole, relatively more black Canadians 25–44 years of age were single and never married, divorced, or separated in 2006 than in 1986. Between 1986 and 2006, the disparities in income between black families with young children and the general population have grown larger, both for single and dual parent families. The consequences of higher family instability, lone-parent families, economic insecurity and poverty for black families can only be detrimental for the welfare of children, particularly in a context of racial inequality. These issues deserve to be further investigated. Il n’existe aucune étude récente sur les caractéristiques des familles noires au Canada qui se base sur les données du recensement. En plus de présenter de nouvelles analyses sur les familles noires, cette étude reprend en partie celles effectuées il y a 20 ans par Christensen et Weinfeld (1993) à l’aide des données du recensement de 1986. Les objectifs sont, d’une part, d’examiner les circonstances des familles noires selon la composition du ménage, le statut conjugal et le revenu familial par le biais du recensement de 2006 et, d’autre part, de comparer ces résultats avec les données de 1986. L’hétérogénéité culturelle des familles noires va grandissante. Les résultats démontrent que les disparités raciales ont augmenté au sein de la population noire depuis 1986 quant à la formation des familles et le revenu des ménages, et imposent des conséquences uniques pour les femmes et hommes noirs nés au Canada ou à l’extérieur. Entre 1986 et 2006, les disparités de revenu ont augmenté entre les ménages comprenant des enfants noirs et la population générale. Ces disparités sont présentes autant chez les familles monoparentales que biparentales. L’instabilité conjugale, vivre dans une famille monoparentale, l’insécurité économique et la pauvreté peuvent avoir des effets néfastes pour le bien-être des enfants issus de familles de la minorité noire et ce, particulièrement dans un contexte d’inégalités raciales. Ces questions méritent d’être approfondies.

Inequalities in Hypertension and Diabetes in Canada: Intersections between Racial Identity, Gender, and Income

“…34,35 In Canada, evidence suggests that Black women and men face a similar burden of the economic inequalities that continue to negatively affect Black Canadians. 26,27 In our models, BMI, smoking status, and physical activity failed to explicate the multiplicative jeopardy of hypertension experienced by poor Black Canadian women. Similar to American trends, it could be that poor Black women are more likely than poor White Canadians and poor Black men to be single par-…”

Black Students and High School Completion in Quebec and Ontario: A Multivariate Analysis

“…). As indicated earlier, black families in Canada face higher rates of socioeconomic disadvantage than average, and this is due not only to class, but also racial discrimination, labor market barriers for immigrants, segregation in low‐wage work, and gender biases (Livingstone and Weinfeld ). It is also because of these combined forces that we find more black women heading households on their own.…”

“…In interpreting the association between income, family structure, and racial disparities in educational attainment, it is important to keep in mind the closely intertwined relationship between social class and race, gender, and immigration (Robson et al 2014). As indicated earlier, black families in Canada face higher rates of socioeconomic disadvantage than average, and this is due not only to class, but also racial discrimination, labor market barriers for immigrants, segregation in low-wage work, and gender biases (Livingstone and Weinfeld 2015). It is also because of these combined forces that we find more black women heading households on their own.…”

“…Across Canada, black families are more likely than other families to be low‐income, even when family structures are the same. While blacks of the second generation have attained close to economic parity with native whites, black immigrants, blacks of the third generation or more, and black families with young children have seen their incomes fall or lag in relation to the average (Attewell, Kasinitz, and Dunn ; Livingstone and Weinfeld ). In 2006, black children were slightly more likely to be living in low‐income families compared with 1986.…”

“…In 2006, black children were slightly more likely to be living in low‐income families compared with 1986. Across the same 20‐year period, the low‐income rate for children in the general population had declined (Livingstone and Weinfeld ). This observation is consistent with a general trend across the country of rising low‐income rates for recent immigrants since the 1980s, versus a decline for the native born (Picot and Hou ).…”