Report
Prepared for Women and Gender Equality Canada
Supplier Name: Environics Research
Contract Number: 1W190-220202/001/CY
Contract Value: $135,088.90
Contract Award Date: December 14, 2021
Delivery Date: May 13, 2022
Registration Number: 064-21
For more information on this report, please contact Women and Gender Equality Canada at: FEGC.Communications.WAGE@fegc-wage.gc.ca
Ce rapport est aussi disponible en français.
Prepared for Women and Gender Equality Canada
Supplier name: Environics Research
May 2022
This public opinion research report presents the results of a survey conducted by Environics Research on behalf of Women and Gender Equality Canada. The research was conducted from February 10 to March 10, 2022. This publication may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes only. Prior written permission must be obtained from Women and Gender Equality Canada. For more information on this report, please contact Women and Gender Equality Canada at: FEGC.Communications.WAGE@fegc-wage.gc.ca
Catalogue Number: SW21-187/2022E-PDF
International Standard Book Number (ISBN): 978-0-660-43455-1
Cette publication est aussi disponible en français sous le titre: Attitudes et sensibilisation à la violence fondée sur le sexe chez les jeunes au Canada
© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister for Women and Gender Equality, 2022.
Environics Research (Environics) is pleased to present this report to Women and Gender Equality Canada with findings from the Attitudes and Awareness of Gender-Based Violence Among Youth in Canada survey.
Gender-based violence (GBV) is a widespread and persistent problem across Canada. More than eleven million Canadians (men and women) have been physically or sexually assaulted since they were the age of 15, and this number represents 38% of women nation-wide (Source: Statistics Canada Survey of Safety in Public and Private Spaces 2018). GBV also takes many forms including emotional, psychological, financial, physical, and sexual abuse committed by a current or former spouse, common-law partner, or dating partner. There are also many specific segments of the population who are at heightened risk of experiencing GBV, and there is reason to believe that the Covid-19 pandemic has led to increases in a "GBV shadow pandemic". While GBV can affect people of all ages, there is evidence that it is a particularly big problem for younger people between the ages of 14 and 24 (Source: Statistics Canada Survey of Safety in Public and Private Spaces 2018).
This research was conducted with the objective of informing upcoming efforts to raise awareness about GBV and shift attitudes within Canada that contribute to gendered inequalities and gender-based violence (GBV). It is also intended to provide a measure of awareness, attitudes, and behaviours in order to monitor the impact of change efforts over time.
The survey explores the awareness, attitudes, and behaviours of Canadian youth with regard to the following topics:
Environics Research conducted a 15-minute online survey with 2,002 Canadians aged 14 to 24 from February 10 to March 10, 2022. Survey respondents were selected from registered members of an opt-in online panel. Since a sample drawn from an online panel is not a random probability sample, no formal estimates of sampling error can be calculated.
Quotas for the general population were set by age, gender, and region. The final general population data were then weighted to ensure the sample is representative of the Canadian population, according to the most recent Census. More information about the methodology for research is included in Appendix A of the full report.
I hereby certify as senior officer of Environics that the deliverables fully comply with the Government of Canada political neutrality requirements outlined in the Communications Policy of the Government of Canada, and Procedures for Planning and Contracting Public Opinion Research. Specifically, the deliverables do not include information on electoral voting intentions, political party preferences, standings with the electorate, or ratings of the performance of a political party or its leaders.
Derek Leebosh
Vice President, Public Affairs
Environics Research Group
derek.leebosh@environics.ca
(416) 820-1963
Supplier name: Environics Research Group
PSPC contract number: 1W190-220202/001/CY
Original contract date: 2021-12-14
Contract value: $135,088.90
For more information, contact: FEGC.Communications.WAGE@fegc-wage.gc.ca
Environics Research (Environics) is pleased to present this report to Women and Gender Equality Canada with findings from the Attitudes and Awareness of Gender-Based Violence Among Youth in Canada survey.
Gender-based violence (GBV) is a widespread and persistent problem across Canada. As many as two-thirds of Canadians know a woman who has experienced physical or sexual abuse. More than eleven million Canadians (men and women) have been physically or sexually assaulted since they were the age of 15, and this number represents 38% of women nation-wide (Statistics Canada Survey of Safety in Public and Private Spaces 2018). GBV also takes many forms. Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is an especially problematic subset of GBV in Canada that encompasses a broad range of behaviours including emotional, psychological, financial, physical, and sexual abuse committed by a current or former spouse, common-law partner, or dating partner. There are also many specific segments of the population who are at heightened risk of experiencing GBV. These include Indigenous and racialized women, women with disabilities, those who identify as LGBTQ2 and other groups. There is also reason to believe that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to increases in several forms of GBV and this has even been referred to as the "GBV shadow pandemic". While GBV can affect people of all ages, there is evidence that it is a particularly big problem for younger people between the ages of 14 and 24 (Statistics Canada Survey of Safety in Public and Private Spaces 2018).
This research was conducted with the objective of informing upcoming efforts to raise awareness about GBV and shift attitudes within Canada that contribute to gendered inequalities and gender-based violence (GBV). It is also intended to provide a measure of awareness, attitudes, and behaviours in order to monitor the impact of change efforts over time. The research was designed to consider the perspective of respondents from all sides of the GBV equation, including the victims of GBV who are overwhelmingly, but not exclusively, women or LGBTQ2, possible perpetrators of GBV, as well as those who are "bystanders" and who may have witnessed GBV.
The survey explores the awareness, attitudes, and behaviours of Canadian youth with regard to the following topics:
This report begins with an executive summary outlining key findings and conclusions, followed by detailed analysis of the quantitative results. A detailed set of "banner tables" is provided under separate cover; this presents results for all survey questions by demographic variables such as age, gender, region, education, race, indigeneity, language, as well as experience with GBV.
The results are expressed as percentages unless otherwise noted. Results may not add up to 100% due to rounding or multiple responses. Net results cited in the text may not exactly match individual results shown in the charts due to rounding.
Findings in this report are based on an online survey of 2,002 Canadian youth (age 14 to 24), conducted from February 10 to March 10, 2022. Unless otherwise noted, all sub-group comparisons are based on this sample.
Additional details about the methodology can be found in the Methodology section at the end of this report (Appendix A).
Gender-based violence and climate change rate highest in concern among Canadian youth; about four in ten say they are very concerned about each of these issues.
Asked to rate their level of concern about five broad issues, Canadian youth are most concerned about gender-based violence (40% very concerned) and climate change (38%).
Combining responses of very concerned and somewhat concerned, three in four Canadian youth (75%) have some degree of concern about this issue, on par with climate change (76%) and cyberbullying (74%).
| Issues | Very concerned | Somewhat concerned | NET: Concerned | Not very concerned | Not at all concerned | Not sure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gender-based violence | 40% | 35% | 75% | 17% | 6% | 2% |
| Climate change | 38% | 38% | 76% | 18% | 5% | 1% |
| Cyberbullying | 31% | 43% | 74% | 18% | 6% | 1% |
| Guns and gangs | 29% | 35% | 64% | 25% | 10% | 1% |
| Opioids and substance abuse | 29% | 39% | 68% | 21% | 8% | 3% |
Q1. To get started, how concerned are you about each of the following issues in terms of how they impact you or those you care about?
Sub-groups of Canadian youth more likely to be very concerned about gender-based violence include:
More than three-quarters (77%) of youth are at least somewhat familiar with the term "gender-based violence."
Most Canadian youth (77%) say they are either very familiar (31%) or somewhat familiar (46%) with the term "gender-based violence." Just 4 percent have never heard the term before.
| Issues | Canadian youth (n=2,002) |
|---|---|
| NET: Familiar | 77% |
| Very familiar | 31% |
| Somewhat familiar | 46% |
| Not very familiar | 18% |
| Had never heard of it | 4% |
| Don't know / prefer not to answer | 1% |
Q2. Before today, how familiar were you with the term "gender-based violence?
Some sub-groups of Canadian youth are more likely to be very familiar with the term:
Youth most often define gender-based violence simply as violence against a person based on gender.
Asked to define the term "gender-based violence" in an open-ended question, youth most often give a straight-forward response, defining it simply as violence against a person based on gender (40%). The second most common definition specifically points to women as the victims of gender-based violence (13%). Definitions with more specificity about the nature of violence or the identity of victims were mentioned less often, and three in ten (29%) were not able to provide a definition. These results suggest that while most youth claim some familiarity with the concept of gender-based violence, few have a deeper understanding of what it entails.
| Definitions | Canadian youth (n=2,002) |
|---|---|
| Violence against a person based on their gender | 40% |
| Physical violence against women/domestic violence against women | 13% |
| Rape/forced sex | 7% |
| Violence against a person identifying differently than their biological birth gender | 5% |
| Violence against LGBTQ2 group | 5% |
| Gender inequality/discrimination due to cultural concepts | 3% |
| Acts of aggression/assault/attack/using violence to control or threaten the weak | 3% |
| Illegal action /a crime that needs to be faced in society | 2% |
| It is violence in a way to injure or hurt someone | 2% |
| Verbal attacks on someone | 2% |
| Violence against men | 1% |
| Other | 2% |
| Nothing | <1% |
| DK/NA | 29% |
Q3. How would you define the term "gender-based violence" in your own words? What is it?
Groups more likely to say they "don't know" how to define gender-based violence include:
Physical violence and overt threats committed by men, against women, are most readily identified by youth as gender-based violence.
Survey respondents were shown a list of nine different examples of aggressive acts and asked to indicate if each one is or is NOT gender-based violence. Acts committed by men against women were most often identified as gender-based violence, including sexual assault (84%), physical assault (81%), and threats or emotional abuse (77%). Smaller majorities identified physical violence perpetrated against men, and non-physical types of control and coercion as gender-based violence.
| Acts | Is gender-based violence | Is NOT gender-based violence | Don't know / prefer not to answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| A man sexually assaulting a woman | 84% | 11% | 5% |
| A woman being physically assaulted by a man | 81% | 14% | 5% |
| A woman being threatened and emotionally abused by a man | 77% | 17% | 6% |
| A woman physically assaulting her husband/male partner | 74% | 19% | 7% |
| A gay man being bullied or attacked by a straight man | 68% | 25% | 7% |
| A man trying to control his wife by restricting her access to money | 64% | 27% | 8% |
| Sharing nude photos of girlfriend / boyfriend without permission | 60% | 29% | 11% |
| Trying to convince girl / boyfriend to have sex after they've said no | 60% | 30% | 10% |
| A violent dispute between two straight men | 27% | 66% | 8% |
Q4. Here is a list of things that could happen to a person – do you think each of these is or is NOT an example of gender-based violence?
There were several noteworthy differences between sub-groups of Canadian youth in their perceptions of these scenarios:
Youth widely see gender-based violence as an extremely or somewhat serious problem nationally and provincially, and about half see it as a serious issue at school and in their local community.
Perceptions of the seriousness of gender-based violence show a clear gradient, with youth perceiving it to be most serious at the broadest geography level and far less serious within more personal spaces. This pattern speaks to a distinction between awareness of gender-based violence and personal experience with it. About three in four youth (73%) see gender-based violence as an extremely or somewhat serious problem in Canada as a whole, and two-thirds (67%) see it as a serious problem in their province or territory. Moving closer, about half see it as a serious problem at school (51%) or in their local community (49%). Fewer youth see it as a serious problem in their workplaces (38%), their families (29%), or among their friends (28%); youth directly witnessing and experiencing gender-based violence are issues explored later in the survey.
| Place | NET: Serious problem | Extremely serious problem | Somewhat serious problem | Not a very serious problem | Not a serious problem at all | Don't know/prefer not to answer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In Canada as a whole | 73% | 26% | 47% | 17% | 5% | 5% |
| In respondent province or territory | 67% | 21% | 46% | 21% | 5% | 6% |
| At school | 51% | 20% | 31% | 31% | 14% | 5% |
| In your local community | 49% | 15% | 34% | 32% | 11% | 7% |
| Where you work | 38% | 17% | 21% | 30% | 26% | 5% |
| In your own family | 29% | 13% | 16% | 20% | 48% | 3% |
| In your circle of friends | 28% | 11% | 17% | 27% | 42% | 3% |
Q5. Gender-based violence is "violence faced by people based on their sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, or how their gender is perceived by others." Knowing this definition, how serious a problem do you think gender-based violence is in each of the following places?
While the same general pattern holds true across sub-groups, with gender-based violence seen as most serious at a national level, some groups perceive the seriousness of gender-based violence differently in specific places:
Most youth see gender-based violence as a problem that has grown worse or hasn't changed compared to the past; just one in four believe that it is less of a problem now.
Canadian youth generally see gender-based violence as a problem that has worsened with time (44%) or hasn't changed (20%); only one in four (26%) believe that gender-based violence is less of a problem now than it was in the past. This could be because gender-based violence is a more prominent topic in the general discourse than it has been in the past, which could lead to perceptions that the problem itself has worsened with time.
| Change over time | Canadian youth (n=2,002) |
|---|---|
| Gender-based violence is more of a problem | 44% |
| Gender-based violence is less of a problem | 26% |
| No change | 20% |
| Don't know/prefer not to answer | 10% |
Q6. Do you think gender-based violence is becoming more of a problem or less of a problem in Canada than it was in the past or has there been no change?
Perceptions of how gender-based violence has changed in Canada vary between sub-groups:
Most often, youth broadly see women and girls, trans and non-binary, and LGBTQ2 people as the most likely victims of gender-based violence.
When identifying likely victims of gender-based violence, Canadian youth generally point to groups defined by their gender identity and sexual orientation. Young women or girls are most often noted as likely victims (41%) followed by trans, intersex, or non-binary youth (36%), and LGBTQ2 youth (35%).
Youth less often identify people with other risk factors as likely victims. This points to a lower understanding of how different factors and socio-demographic characteristics can make some groups more vulnerable to gender-based violence than others.
| Groups | Canadian youth (n=2,002) |
|---|---|
| Young women or girls | 41% |
| Trans, intersex, and non-binary young people | 36% |
| Young people who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or queer | 35% |
| Young people with mental health issues | 24% |
| Racialized young people | 22% |
| Young First Nations people | 22% |
| Young people who are newcomers to Canada | 20% |
| Young men or boys | 18% |
| Young Inuit people | 18% |
| Young people with low incomes | 17% |
| Young Métis people | 16% |
| Young people living in rural and remote areas | 15% |
| Young people on social assistance | 14% |
| Other groups of young people | <1% |
| Young people are all equally likely to be a victim | 21% |
| Don't know/prefer not to answer | 8% |
Q7. Which of the following specific groups of people your age do you think are most likely to be the victims of gender-based violence in Canada?
Perceptions of likely victims differ between some sub-groups of Canadian youth:
Youth most often identify males or male-identifying people generally as the most likely perpetrators of gender-based violence.
Asked to indicate who is most likely to commit gender-based violence from a list of potential perpetrators, nearly half of youth (48%) say that males or male-identified people are most likely. Four in ten say that former (43%) and current (40%) spouses or intimate partners are most likely to commit gender-based violence, and about one in four see family members (27%) or personal friends (23%) as likely perpetrators.
| Groups | Canadian youth (n=2,002) |
|---|---|
| Males or male-identified people in general | 48% |
| Former spouses/intimate (i.e., sexual and/or dating) partners | 43% |
| Current spouses/intimate (i.e., sexual and/or dating) partners | 40% |
| Family members | 27% |
| Personal friends | 23% |
| Anyone can do it | 1% |
| Other | 1% |
| Don't know/prefer not to answer | 19% |
Q8. In Canada, who do you think is most likely to commit or perpetrate gender-based violence?
Likely perpetrators of gender-based violence are perceived differently between sub-groups:
Most youth agree that verbal threats, bullying LGBTQ2 people, and using money access to control a partner are forms of abuse.
Asked to consider a set of nine agree/disagree statements about gender-based violence, nearly half of youth strongly agree that verbal threats (49%), bullying LGBTQ2 people (49%), and using money access to control a partner (46%) are abusive behaviours. A similar proportion also strongly agree that everyone has a role to play in ending gender-based violence (45%). Strong agreement with each statement is much lower for other items on the list.
| Statements | Strongly agree | Somewhat agree | NET: Agree | Somewhat disagree | Strongly disagree | Not sure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal insults and threats are a form of violence | 49% | 36% | 85% | 8% | 3% | 4% |
| Bullying / teasing someone because they are LGBTQ2 is a form of GBV | 49% | 31% | 80% | 10% | 5% | 6% |
| Controlling partner by cutting off access to money is a form of abuse | 46% | 35% | 81% | 10% | 3% | 5% |
| Everyone has personal responsibility and a role to play in ending GBV | 45% | 39% | 84% | 9% | 3% | 4% |
| People who witness domestic violence usually do not report it to the police | 27% | 49% | 76% | 12% | 4% | 8% |
| We do not take gender-based violence seriously enough in Canada | 27% | 40% | 67% | 18% | 7% | 9% |
| If I wanted more information on GBV, I'd know where to find it | 27% | 39% | 66% | 21% | 7% | 7% |
| No matter what we do, there will always be gender-based violence in Canada | 25% | 46% | 71% | 17% | 5% | 6% |
| Most women could leave a violent relationship if they really wanted to | 21% | 27% | 48% | 26% | 19% | 6% |
Q9. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
Looking at those who strongly agree with the statements about gender-based violence, there are some noteworthy distinctions between sub-groups of Canadian youth:
Youth rate online spaces as the most likely place for gender-based violence to happen.
Asked where gender-based violence is most likely to occur, Canadian youth most often say it happens online (42%). This suggests that youth have a general understanding that gender-based violence is not limited to physical aggression, even if they are not consistently able to define or identify it in those terms. Similar proportions of youth mention home (38%), bars or restaurants (38%), and public places (35%) as likely places for gender-based violence to occur.
| Places | Canadian youth (n=2,002) |
|---|---|
| Online | 42% |
| In the home | 38% |
| In a bar, restaurant or dance club | 38% |
| In public (e.g., on the street, in a mall, in a store) | 35% |
| At school | 31% |
| In workplaces | 24% |
| On public transit (including an airport, flight, train etc.) | 22% |
| Anywhere | 1% |
| Somewhere else | <1% |
| Don't know/prefer not to answer | 5% |
Q10. Where do you think gender-based violence is most likely to happen?
Perceptions of where gender-based violence is most likely to happen differ between sub-groups in some instances:
Canadian youth tend to see individual attitudes like sexism and homophobia as the main drivers of gender-based violence.
A majority of youth say that sexism (63%) and homophobia (51%) are main factors contributing to gender-based violence in Canada. Racism (45%) and a culture of violence (44%) also rank highly, named by about four in ten youth, alongside substance abuse (44%) and mental health issues (43%). About one in four say that economic anxiety (28%) and poverty (26%) are main factors.
This ranking can be roughly broken into a gradient from individual attitudes (sexism, homophobia, racism, culture of violence), to individual problems (substance abuse, mental health), to socio-economic conditions (economic anxiety, poverty, upbringing). This points to a general perception among youth that individual attitudes are the main drivers of gender-based violence, and a low general understanding of how other factors can exacerbate the risk. In other words, youth tend to see gender-based violence as a problem rooted in individual perpetrators, not societal conditions.
| Places | Canadian youth (n=2,002) |
|---|---|
| Sexism | 63% |
| Homophobia | 51% |
| Racism | 45% |
| A culture that encourages men to be violent | 44% |
| Substance abuse (e.g., drug addiction, alcoholism etc.) | 44% |
| Mental health problems | 43% |
| Economic anxiety (e.g., stress about job, cost of living etc.) | 28% |
| Poverty | 26% |
| Poor education/upbringing | 1% |
| Something else | 1% |
Q11. Which of the following do you think are the main factors that contribute to the problem of gender-based violence in Canada?
Factors contributing to gender-based violence are perceived differently in some sub-groups:
Youth are quite divided when it comes to their perceptions of the prevalence of gender-based violence.
Perceptions of the prevalence of gender-based violence vary widely among Canadian youth, with nearly equal proportions seeing it as something that is rare or occurs occasionally (47%) and something that is common or everywhere (44%).
| Perception | Canadian youth (n=2,002) |
|---|---|
| NET: Rare / occasionally | 47% |
| Is rare and only affects a very small number of young women (less than 5%) | 11% |
| Happens occasionally and affects a significant minority of young women (5%-39%) | 36% |
| NET: Common / everywhere | 44% |
| Is pretty common and affects a lot of young women (40%-59%) | 29% |
| Is everywhere and most young women experience it (60%-100%) | 15% |
| Don't know/prefer not to answer | 9% |
Q12. How common do you think it is for young women (14 to 24 years old) in Canada to be the victims of gender-based violence? Do you think gender-based violence ___?
Perceptions of prevalence differ along demographic lines:
One in three Canadian youth say they are at least somewhat familiar with WAGE.
Familiarity with Canada's Department for Women and Gender Equality (WAGE) is somewhat low among Canadian youth, with four in ten (40%) saying they have never heard of WAGE; this exceeds the 36 percent who say they are very (13%) or somewhat (23%) familiar with WAGE.
| Familiarity | Canadian youth (n=2,002) |
|---|---|
| NET: Familiar | 36% |
| Very familiar | 13% |
| Somewhat familiar | 23% |
| Not very familiar | 20% |
| Had never heard of WAGE | 40% |
| Don't know/prefer not to answer | 4% |
Q13. WAGE is the Government of Canada's Department for Women and Gender Equality. Before today, how familiar were you with WAGE?
Net familiarity with WAGE is higher among:
More than half of youth say they would visit the website in the future.
While familiarity with WAGE is low, youth are nonetheless interested in WAGE as an information source on gender-based violence, with more than half (53%) saying they would visit the website in the future (in addition to the 20% who already have).
| Interest | Canadian youth (n=2,002) |
|---|---|
| Yes, already visited WAGE website | 20% |
| No, but would visit WAGE website in future | 53% |
| No and would not visit WAGE website in future | 19% |
| Don't know/prefer not to answer | 8% |
Q14. Have you or would you ever visit the WAGE website (women-gender-equality.canada.ca) for more information about gender-based violence?
Some sub-groups are more likely to say they have already visited the WAGE website:
Others are more likely to say they are interested in visiting in the future:
Most youth would trust WAGE as a source of information about gender-based violence.
Youth also see WAGE as a trustworthy source of information about gender-based violence; three in four (76%) say they would trust WAGE as an information source a lot or somewhat.
| Trust | Canadian youth (n=2,002) |
|---|---|
| NET: A lot / Somewhat | 76% |
| A lot | 29% |
| Somewhat | 47% |
| Not every much | 9% |
| Not at all | 2% |
| Don't know/prefer not to answer | 13% |
Q15. To what extent would you trust information about gender-based violence that comes from WAGE (Department for Women and Gender Equality?
Groups most likely to say they would trust WAGE a lot include:
Youth would most likely seek help from the police or a parent, if someone they knew had experienced or witnessed gender-based violence.
About four in ten Canadian youth say they would go to the police (44%), a parent (42%), or some sort of counselling service (36%) to seek help if someone they knew had witnessed or experienced gender-based violence. While it is natural that many young people see their parents as a source of support, it is noteworthy that more objective sources of support outside the home, such as police or a counselling service, are mentioned frequently.
A friend (34%) or an adult outside the family (32%) are possibilities for about one in three, and one in four say they would go to another adult in the family (26%). Seeking help from a medical professional is less common (20%), and one in ten say they probably wouldn't seek help at all (10%).
| Sources | Canadian youth (n=2,002) |
|---|---|
| Police | 44% |
| A parent | 42% |
| Counselling service / helpline / crisis centre | 36% |
| A friend | 34% |
| A trusted adult outside your family, like a teacher or a coach | 32% |
| Another adult family member, like a grandparent or aunt/uncle | 26% |
| Doctor, nurse, or hospital | 20% |
| I probably would not seek help at all | 10% |
| Other | <1% |
| Don't know/prefer not to answer | 8% |
Q17. If you or someone you knew experienced or witnessed gender-based violence, where would you go for help?
There are some noteworthy differences between sub-groups:
One in three Canadian youth report personally witnessing gender-based violence at some point in their life.
Asked if they have ever personally witnessed gender-based violence, about one in three (35%) say yes, they have witnessed it at some point, 57 percent have not witnessed it and eight percent prefer not to answer.
| Sources | Canadian youth (n=2,002) |
|---|---|
| Yes, I have | 35% |
| No, I have not | 57% |
| Don't know/prefer not to answer | 8% |
Q18. Have you ever personally witnessed gender-based violence in your life?
Keeping in mind that youth often define gender-based violence in different terms depending on their demographics, those most likely to report having witnessed gender-based violence include:
Those who report witnessing gender-based violence saw it most often in a public place, at school, or online.
Among those who have witnessed gender-based violence at some point, the most commonly reported setting is a public place (41%), followed closely by school (38%) and online (38%). Youth also commonly report witnessing it among friends (32%), within their own family (29%), or at a bar or club (29%) and somewhat less often at work (19%).
| Sources | Canadian youth who have witnessed GBV (n=706) |
|---|---|
| In a public place (e.g., mall, street) | 41% |
| At school | 38% |
| Online | 38% |
| Among my friends | 32% |
| In my own family | 29% |
| In a bar or club | 29% |
| At work | 19% |
| Somewhere else | 1% |
| Don't know/prefer not to answer | 3% |
Q19. Where have you witnessed gender-based violence?
Some settings of gender-based violence are mentioned more often within sub-groups:
Most youth who have witnessed gender-based violence said they took some type of action, like supporting the victim or trying to stop the violence themselves.
Nearly half of youth (47%) who witnessed gender-based violence say they tried to offer support to the victim, and about four in ten (39%) report trying to step in to stop it (39%). One in five contacted police (20%) or went online to get information about what to do (20%). Just one in four said they didn't do anything (23%).
| Sources | Canadian youth who have witnessed GBV (n=706) |
|---|---|
| Talked to the victim & tried to be supportive | 47% |
| I stepped in and tried to stop it myself | 39% |
| I contacted the police | 20% |
| Went online to try to find out what to do | 20% |
| I did something else | 1% |
| I did not do anything | 23% |
| Don't know/prefer not to answer | 4% |
Q20. When you witnessed gender-based violence in the past what, if anything, did you do?
Action taken when witnessing gender-based violence differs between sub-groups:
Lack of knowledge and fear are the most common reasons cited by youth who didn't do anything when witnessing gender-based violence.
Those who said they didn't do anything when they witnessed gender-based violence most often say they didn't know what to do (44%), they were scared of being harmed too (36%), or they were worried about getting in trouble (32%). For some, apathy and low awareness of gender-based violence are key to their inaction, with one in four saying they didn't want to get involved (27%) or didn't know that they were witnessing violence (24%), and one in five saying they didn't think it was a big deal (20%).
| Sources | Canadian youth who didn't do anything when they witnessed GBV (n=164) |
|---|---|
| I didn't know what to do | 44% |
| I was scared I would be harmed too | 36% |
| I was worried that I would get in trouble | 32% |
| I didn't want to get involved | 27% |
| I didn't know at the time that it was violence | 24% |
| I didn't think it was a big deal | 20% |
| Other | 2% |
| Don't know/prefer not to answer | 4% |
Q21. What were the main reasons you did not do anything when you witnessed gender-based violence?
Among those who did not do anything when they witnessed gender-based violence, some reasons are more prevalent among certain sub-groups:
Youth largely believe that family, friends, and strangers have at least some degree of responsibility to act when they witness gender-based violence.
More than half of youth believe that family members have a major responsibility (58%) to do something when they witness gender-based violence; they are much less likely to assign major responsibility to friends (44%) and strangers or bystanders (25%). Still, very few say that any of these groups have no responsibility to act in these situations.
| Canadian youth (n=2,002) | NET: Major / Some responsibility | Major responsibility | Some responsibility | No responsibility | Don't know/prefer not to answer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family members | 90% | 58% | 32% | 5% | 5% |
| Friends | 88% | 44% | 44% | 7% | 5% |
| Strangers / Bystanders | 82% | 25% | 57% | 12% | 6% |
Q22. To what extent do you think that the following groups of people have a responsibility to do something when they see someone experiencing gender-based violence?
Some sub-groups are more likely to say that these groups have a major responsibility to act:
More than one in four youth report that they have personally experienced gender-based violence.
Canadian youth were asked a separate set of questions about their own personal experience with gender-based violence, distinct from questions about witnessing it. More than one in four (27%) disclosed that they have personally experienced gender-based violence.
| Canadian youth (n=2,002) | |
|---|---|
| Yes, I have | 27% |
| No, I have not | 66% |
| Don't know/prefer not to answer | 7% |
Q23. Have you ever personally experienced gender-based violence?
While the survey was designed to assure youth that their responses were confidential, it is important to note that some youth may still be less likely to report experiencing gender-based violence because of feelings of trauma, shame, or embarrassment, or because of certain cultural norms. Personal definitions of gender-based violence also vary between youth, as noted in previous questions from this survey. With this in mind, disclosure of gender-based violence experience is more common among youth in the following sub-groups:
Of those who experienced violence, a majority say they sought help, most often a parent, a counselling service, a friend, or another trusted adult. Most found the support helpful.
Among Canadian youth who say they have experienced gender-based violence, a majority (61%) say they sought help or support.
| Experienced GBV (n=534) | |
|---|---|
| Yes, I did | 61% |
| No, I did not | 37% |
| Don't know/prefer not to answer | 2% |
Q24. When you experienced gender-based violence did you seek any help or support?
Those more likely to have sought help include:
Youth who sought help after experiencing gender-based violence most often went to a parent (43%), a counselling service (41%), a friend, (39%) or another trusted adult (35%) for help. It is worth noting that in the earlier question that asked about sources of support in hypothetical terms, police ranked first, but only ranked fifth among those who actually sought support for gender-based violence.
| Sources | Experienced GBV and sought help (n=327) |
|---|---|
| A parent | 42% |
| A counselling service or helpline | 40% |
| A friend | 37% |
| A trusted adult outside your family | 34% |
| Police | 30% |
| Another adult family member | 28% |
| Doctor, nurse, or hospital | 27% |
| Don't know/prefer not to answer | 2% |
Q25. Where did you seek support when you experienced gender-based violence?
Noteworthy differences between sub-groups of Canadian youth include:
Those who sought help after experiencing gender-based violence largely describe the support they received as very helpful (59%) or somewhat helpful (34%). Combined, this adds up to nine in ten majority (93%) who found the support helpful to some degree.
| Helpfulness | Experienced GBV and sought help (n=327) |
|---|---|
| NET: Helpful | 93% |
| Very helpful | 60% |
| Somewhat helpful | 33% |
| Not very helpful | 3% |
| Not at all helpful | 2% |
| Don't know/prefer not to answer | 2% |
Q26. How helpful was the support you sought when you experienced gender-based violence?
Men (63%) who sought help were more likely than women (57%) to have found it very helpful.
Those who did not seek support cited a variety of reasons, including fear and embarrassment.
Victims of gender-based violence who did not seek support cited a range of reasons for not doing so, including fear of making things worse (20%), embarrassment (11%), and a lack of understanding that what they experienced was abuse (9%). One in three (34%) declined to answer this question.
| Reasons | Experienced GBV and did not seek help (n=197) |
|---|---|
| Was scared things might escalate/make it worse | 20% |
| Felt embarrassed/didn't want anyone to know/wanted to resolve it myself | 11% |
| Didn't realize it was abuse/violence/was too young to understand | 9% |
| Didn't know what to do/whom to talk to/how to explain it | 9% |
| Wouldn't have been believed/would have been judged | 9% |
| No one would've done anything or cared | 6% |
| Thought it was insignificant at the time | 5% |
| Wanted to forget about it/not to keep talking/repeating what happened | 4% |
| Is not a big deal/nothing major | 3% |
| Most of the time family members are not supportive | 3% |
| Other | 4% |
| Don't know/prefer not to answer | 34% |
Q27. What was the main reason why you did not seek out any help or support when you experienced gender-based violence?
Sample sizes preclude statistical comparisons between most sub-groups, but there are some noteworthy differences in reasons for not seeking help:
Canadian youth largely understand consent in a sexual context, but there is room for better understanding of the nuances.
Most youth generally have a good understanding of consent, with eight in ten (79%) agreeing that consent must be given at each step in a sexual encounter.
However, there is some confusion among youth when it comes to interpreting the presence of consent in specific contexts. For example, while seven in ten (69%) agree that consent ends when someone says they don't want to go further, that leaves three in ten who disagree or are unsure. Similarly, three out of ten agree that someone consents unless they clearly say no (31%), and that consent for sex exists if someone doesn't physically resist (29%). Additionally, one in four youth agree that consenting once means consent to any future sex with that person (27%), that being drunk absolves someone of responsibility for consent (27%), and that inviting someone home implies consent (24%).
Statements about consent
| Statements | NET: Agree | Strongly agree | Somewhat agree | Somewhat disagree | Strongly disagree | Not sure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consent must be given at each step in a sexual encounter. | 79% | 49% | 30% | 11% | 5% | 6% |
| If someone says they don't want to go further, there is no longer consent. | 69% | 45% | 24% | 11% | 9% | 11% |
| Unless you clearly say "no" to sex, you are giving consent. | 31% | 12% | 19% | 18% | 45% | 6% |
| If a person doesn't physically resist sex, they have given consent. | 29% | 10% | 19% | 17% | 47% | 6% |
| If you consent once, you are consenting to any future sex with that person. | 27% | 10% | 17% | 14% | 53% | 5% |
| If you are both drunk, you don't have to worry about consent. | 27% | 10% | 17% | 16% | 49% | 6% |
| Inviting someone home means consent for sex. | 24% | 9% | 15% | 14% | 58% | 5% |
Q28. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements on the issue of consent in a sexual situation?
Examining sub-group differences points to where gaps are in understanding of consent:
In this segment of the survey, Canadian youth were asked to read a series of twelve statements that measure people's core socio-cultural values (particularly around gender norms, violence, fatalism and immigration) to express the extent to which they agree or disagree with them.
Most youth have progressive attitudes toward issues of gender equality and sexuality. They reject statements in support of patriarchy and traditional families and support those in same sex relationships.
In the statements related to gender norms and sexuality, youth demonstrate broadly progressive and egalitarian attitudes. Two thirds (65%) agree that same sex couples should be treated the same as married couples, and most disagree that it is not right for a wife to earn more than her husband (67%), that the father of the family must be the master in his own house (62%), that getting married and having children is the only real definition of a family (62%), or that men have a certain natural superiority over women (60%).
| Statements | NET: Agree | Totally agree | Agree somewhat | NET: Disagree | Disagree somewhat | Totally disagree | Not sure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Society should regard people of the same sex who live together the same as married couple | 65% | 34% | 31% | 25% | 16% | 9% | 10% |
| Men have a certain natural superiority over women, and nothing can change this | 35% | 12% | 23% | 60% | 20% | 40% | 5% |
| Getting married and having children is the only real definition of a family | 33% | 13% | 21% | 62% | 20% | 42% | 4% |
| The father of the family must be the master in his own house | 33% | 10% | 23% | 62% | 20% | 42% | 5% |
| In household where both work, not right for wife to earn more than husband | 28% | 11% | 18% | 67% | 15% | 52% | 5% |
Q16. The following is a series of opinions we often hear expressed. Please answer according to what you think or do personally, disregarding what other members of your household or friends might think. Do you totally agree, agree somewhat, disagree somewhat or totally disagree with each of the following?
There are some sub-group variations in reaction to these statements:
Most youth reject the idea that violence can be exciting and that its acceptable for people to react violently to relieve tension, but significant minorities agree with both of these notions.
Most youth also show low acceptance of violence overall, with most disagreeing that violence can sometimes be exciting (62%) or that violent behaviour can relieve tension and is no big deal (57%). However, it should be noted that this means that a third or more of youth do accept violence to some extent with 33 percent agreeing that violence can sometimes be exciting and 36 percent agreeing that violent behaviour can relieve tension and is no big deal.
| Statements | NET: Agree | Totally agree | Agree somewhat | NET: Disagree | Disagree somewhat | Totally disagree | Not sure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| When person is about to explode, violent behaviour can relieve tension / no big deal | 36% | 12% | 24% | 57% | 22% | 35% | 7% |
| Violence can sometimes be exciting | 33% | 12% | 21% | 62% | 16% | 46% | 5% |
Q16. The following is a series of opinions we often hear expressed. Please answer according to what you think or do personally, disregarding what other members of your household or friends might think. Do you totally agree, agree somewhat, disagree somewhat or totally disagree with each of the following?
There are some sub-group variations in reaction to these statements:
Most youth disagree that racism is largely a thing of the past and most reject the notion that there is too much immigration. They are more divided on whether immigrants should assimilate.
Attitudes towards immigration are also largely progressive among youth, with more than half of youth disagreeing that racism in Canada is by and large a thing of the past (60%), that there is too much immigration, and it threatens the purity of the country (58%), or that immigrants should set aside their backgrounds and blend into the Canadian culture (51%).
| Statements | NET: Agree | Totally agree | Agree somewhat | NET: Disagree | Disagree somewhat | Totally disagree | Not sure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Immigrants should set aside cultural backgrounds and blend into the Canadian culture | 42% | 15% | 27% | 51% | 23% | 28% | 7% |
| Overall, there is too much immigration. It threatens the purity of the country | 36% | 13% | 23% | 57% | 20% | 38% | 7% |
| Racism in Canada is by and large a thing of the past | 34% | 12% | 22% | 60% | 27% | 33% | 6% |
Q16. The following is a series of opinions we often hear expressed. Please answer according to what you think or do personally, disregarding what other members of your household or friends might think. Do you totally agree, agree somewhat, disagree somewhat or totally disagree with each of the following?
There are some sub-group variations in reaction to these statements on immigration and racism:
Most youth disagree that their lives are predetermined, but half agree that they have trouble changing the course of events that affect them.
While Canadian youth tend to disagree that their destiny pre-determined (56%), they are more mixed on the statement "I have a lot of trouble changing the course of events that happen to me" with almost equal proportions agreeing (47%) and disagreeing (44%) with this statement.
| Statements | NET: Agree | Totally agree | Agree somewhat | NET: Disagree | Disagree somewhat | Totally disagree | Not sure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I have a lot of trouble changing the course of events that affect me | 47% | 14% | 33% | 44% | 30% | 14% | 10% |
| Whatever I do, my destiny is pre-determined, and history takes its course | 37% | 13% | 24% | 56% | 27% | 29% | 8% |
Q16. The following is a series of opinions we often hear expressed. Please answer according to what you think or do personally, disregarding what other members of your household or friends might think. Do you totally agree, agree somewhat, disagree somewhat or totally disagree with each of the following?
There are some sub-group variations in reaction to these statements that address fatalism:
Environics Research conducted an online survey with 2,002 Canadians aged 14 to 24. Survey respondents were selected from registered members of an opt-in online panel. Since a sample drawn from an online panel is not a random probability sample, no formal estimates of sampling error can be calculated.
Sample design, weighting, and respondent profile
Environics conducted a 15-minute online survey from February 10 to March 10, 2022. The sampling method was designed to attain interviews with at least 2,000 Canadians aged 14 to 24.
Quotas for the general population were set by age, gender, and region. The final general population data were then weighted to ensure the sample is representative of the Canadian population, according to the most recent Census.
The survey obtained the following distribution for the Canadian population age 14 to 24:
| Variable | % of population (2016 Census) |
Target (quota) |
% of sample | Actual Unweighted |
Actual Weighted* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | |||||
| Atlantic | 6 | 163 | 8 | 167 | 130 |
| Quebec | 23 | 512 | 26 | 505 | 460 |
| Ontario | 38 | 734 | 37 | 721 | 771 |
| Manitoba / Saskatchewan | 7 | 130 | 7 | 125 | 134 |
| Alberta | 12 | 211 | 11 | 206 | 230 |
| British Columbia / Territories | 14 | 250 | 13 | 278 | 276 |
| CANADA | 100 | 2,000 | 100 | 2,002 | 2,002 |
| Age | |||||
| 14-17 | 36 | 771 | 39 | 742 | 721 |
| 18-24 | 67 | 1,229 | 61 | 1,260 | 1,281 |
| Gender1 | |||||
| Male | 50 | 1,000 | 50 | 946 | 1,001 |
| Female | 49 | 1,000 | 50 | 1,026 | 973 |
| Survey Language | |||||
| English | n/a | n/a | 73 | 1,432 | 1,462 |
| French | n/a | n/a | 27 | 570 | 540 |
*Results are weighted by region, gender and age to 2016 Census data.
1Respondents who identified with a gender category other than male or female were weighted by age and region only.
Questionnaire design
Women and Gender Equality provided Environics with desired topic areas and questions that addressed the research objectives. Environics then designed a questionnaire that incorporated these questions, advising on best practices in question design, particularly for online surveys. Upon approval of the English questionnaire, Environics arranged for the questionnaire to be translated into French by professional translators.
Environics' data analysts programmed the questionnaires, then performed thorough testing to ensure accuracy in set-up and data collection. This validation ensured that the data entry process conformed to the surveys' basic logic. The data collection system handles sampling invitations, quotas, and questionnaire completion (skip patterns, branching, and valid ranges).
Prior to finalizing the survey for fieldwork, a pre-test (soft launch) was conducted in English and French. The pre-test assessed the questionnaires in terms of question wording and sequencing, respondent sensitivity to specific questions and to the survey overall, and survey length. Standard Government of Canada pre-testing questions were also asked. As no changes were required following the pre-test, the 126 (106 English, 20 French) responses have been included in the final data set.
The final survey questionnaire is included in Appendix B.
Fieldwork
The survey was conducted by Environics using a secure, fully featured web-based survey environment. The average interview length was 15 minutes.
All respondents were offered the opportunity to complete the surveys in their official language of choice. All research work was conducted in accordance with the Standards for the Conduct of Government of Canada Public Opinion Research – Online Surveys and recognized industry standards, as well as applicable federal legislation (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, or PIPEDA).
Following data collection, the data from this survey were statistically weighted to ensure the sample is generally representative of the Canadian population (age 14 to 24) according to the most recently available Census information.
Completion results
The completion results are presented in the following table.
| Disposition | Total sample |
|---|---|
| Total invitations (c) | 74,946 |
| Total completes (d) | 2,002 |
| Qualified break-offs (e) | 656 |
| Disqualified (f) | 1,457 |
| Not responded (g) | 69,148 |
| Quota filled (h) | 1,683 |
| Contact rate = (d+e+f+h)/c | 7.73% |
| Participation rate = (d+f+h)/c | 6.86% |
Non-response bias analysis
The table below presents a profile of the final general population (age 14 to 24) sample (unweighted) by gender, compared to the actual population of Canada (age 14 to 24) (2016 Census information).
| Sample type | Sample* | Canada (2016 Census) |
|---|---|---|
| Gender (14 to 24) | ||
| Male | 48% | 51% |
| Female | 52% | 49% |
Department for Women and Gender Equality
2022 Gender-Based Violence Survey of Youth
FINAL Questionnaire
Introduction for 18yrs+
Please select a language for filling out the survey / SVP choisissez votre langue préférée pour remplir le sondage
01- English / Anglais
02- Français / French
Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey dealing with current issues of interest to Canadians.
You are free to fill out the survey or not, and your responses will be kept confidential and anonymous. The survey takes about 12 minutes to complete. You may opt-out of the survey at any time if the topics covered are too difficult.
The information collected through the research is subject to the Privacy Act, legislation of the Government of Canada, and to relevant provincial privacy legislation. Programming note: link is to https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/P-21/
French: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/fra/lois/p-21/
Environics Research, an independent research company, is conducting this survey on behalf of the Government of Canada. The study will help the Government of Canada better understand what young Canadians know about gender-based violence and also develop a public information campaign to address it.
Click here [INSERT LINK: https://www.canadianresearchinsightscouncil.ca/rvs/home/] if you want to check that this survey is real.
Survey registration number 20220201-EN204
To view the Environics privacy policy, click here.
If you require any technical assistance, please contact: Survey Support. [INSERT LINK: ergonlinesurveysupport@Environics.ca]
The survey is best done on a computer or a tablet. If you are filing it out on a smart phone, please turn the device to landscape (horizontal/sideways) mode so all questions are shown correctly.
Please click on >> to continue.
Note: If you don't have an opinion about a question or can't answer it, please click "don't know/prefer not to answer" to move through to the next question. There are only a few key questions where your answer will be needed to move forward.
If you want to make sure that this survey is conducted on behalf of the Government of Canada, you may contact a government representative at 1-855-969-9922 or cfc.Communications.swc@cfc-swc.gc.ca.
Thank you in advance for your participation.
A. In what year were you born?
RECORD YEAR
Numeric dropdown (<1920 to >2002).
IF 18-24YRS SKIP TO Q.C, OTHERWISE CONTINUE TO INSTRUCTION ABOVE Q.B
IF 25YRS+ ASK:
B. Are you the parent or primary caregiver to any children in the following age categories?
Select all that apply
01 - Children under the age of 14
02 - Children between 14 and 15 GO TO PARENT CONSENT FORM
03 - Children between 16 and 17 GO TO PARENT CONSENT FORM
04 - Children 18 or over
05 - I have no children EXCLUSIVE - TERMINATE
IF NOT A PARENT OF A CHILD 14-17YRS (CODE 2 OR 3 AT Q.B) TERMINATE
Introduction for 14-17yrs
Please select a language for filling out the survey / SVP choisissez votre langue préférée pour remplir le sondage
01- English / Anglais
02- Français / French
Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey dealing with current issues of interest to Canadians.
You are free to fill out the survey or not, and your responses will be kept confidential and anonymous. The survey takes about 12 minutes to complete. You may opt-out of the survey at any time if the topics covered are too difficult.
The information collected through the research is subject to the Privacy Act, legislation of the Government of Canada, and to relevant provincial privacy legislation. Programming note: link is to https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/P-21/
French: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/fra/lois/p-21/
Environics Research, an independent research company, is conducting this survey on behalf of the Government of Canada. The study will help the Government of Canada better understand what young Canadians know about gender-based violence and also develop a public information campaign to address it.
Click here [INSERT LINK: https://www.canadianresearchinsightscouncil.ca/rvs/home/] if you want to check that this survey is real. Survey registration number 20220201-EN204
To view the Environics privacy policy, click here.
If you require any technical assistance, please contact: Survey Support. [INSERT LINK: ergonlinesurveysupport@Environics.ca]
The survey is best done on a computer or a tablet. If you are filing it out on a smart phone, please turn the device to landscape (horizontal/sideways) mode so all questions are shown correctly.
Please click on >> to continue.
Note: If you don't have an opinion about a question or can't answer it, please click "don't know/prefer not to answer" to move through to the next question. There are only a few key questions where your answer will be needed to move forward.
If you want to make sure that this survey is conducted on behalf of the Government of Canada, you may contact a government representative at 1-855-969-9922 or cfc.Communications.swc@cfc-swc.gc.ca.
Thank you in advance for your participation.
IF CHILD OF PARENT (WHO PARENT SAYS IS 14-17YRS), ASK:
B2 How old are you?
Select one response
12 years and under
13 years
14 years
15 years
16 years
17 years
18 years and over
IF 14-17YRS CONTINUE, OTHERWISE TERMINATE
ASK ALL (14-24YRS)
C. In which province or territory do you live?
Select one response
DROP DOWN LIST:
Newfoundland and Labrador 1
Prince Edward Island 2
Nova Scotia 3
New Brunswick 4
Quebec 5
Ontario 6
Manitoba 7
Saskatchewan 8
Alberta 9
British Columbia 10
Nunavut 11
Northwest Territories 12
Yukon 13
D. What is your gender?
Select one response
01 – Male
02 – Female
97 – Another gender identity (SPECIFY)______________
99 – Prefer not to answer
[SHOW ON SEPARATE SCREEN AT START OF SURVEY]
Some of the questions in this survey deal with sensitive topics that you may feel uncomfortable answering. If you feel uncomfortable or upset while filling out the survey, you can stop at any time. Also, you may skip any questions you do not wish to answer.
If you need to speak to someone for support, there is a list of resources at the end of this survey.
GENERAL AWARENESS
1. To get started, how concerned are you about each of the following issues in terms of how they impact you or those you care about?
Select one response for each
01 – Very concerned
02 – Somewhat concerned
03 – Not very concerned
04 – Not at all concerned
99 – Don't know/prefer not to answer
ROTATE - Show in carousel format
a) Cyberbullying
b) Opioids and substance abuse issues
c) Climate change
d) Gender-based violence
e) Guns and gangs
2. Before today, how familiar were you with the term "gender-based violence"?
Select one response
01 – Very familiar
02 – Somewhat familiar
03 – Not very familiar
04 – Had never heard of it
99 – Don't know/prefer not to answer
3. How would you define the term "gender-based violence" in your own words? What is it?
Type response below
| 99 – Don't know |
4. Here is a list of things that could happen to a person – do you think each of these is or is NOT an example of gender-based violence?
Select one response for each
01 – Is gender-based violence
02 – Is NOT gender-based violence
99 – Don't know/prefer not to answer
Randomize - Show in carousel format
a. A woman being physically assaulted by a man
b. A woman being threatened and emotionally abused by a man
c. A gay man being bullied or attacked by a straight man
d. A man trying to control his wife by restricting her access to money
e. A man sexually assaulting a woman
f. A woman physically assaulting her husband/male partner
g. A violent dispute between two straight men
h. Trying to convince a girlfriend or boyfriend to have sex after they've said no
i. Sharing nude photos of a girlfriend or boyfriend without their permission
5. Gender-based violence is "violence faced by people based on their sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, or how their gender is perceived by others."
Knowing this definition, how serious a problem do you think gender-based violence is in each of the following places.
Select one response for each
01 - Extremely serious problem
02 - Somewhat serious problem
03 - Not a very serious problem
04 - Not a serious problem at all
05 – Does not apply (i.e., don't work or don't go to school)
99 - Don't know/prefer not to answer
Randomize - Show in carousel format
a) In Canada as a whole
b) In [PIPE IN RESPONDENT PROVINCE/TERRITORY]
c) In your local community
d) Where you work
e) At school
f) In your own family
g) In your circle of friends
6. Do you think gender-based violence is becoming more of a problem or less of a problem in Canada than it was in the past or has there been no change?
Select one response
01 – Gender-based violence is more of a problem
02 – Gender-based violence is less of a problem
03 - No change
99 – Don't know/prefer not to answer
GBV Risk Factors and Causes
7. Which of the following specific groups of people your age do you think are most likely to be the victims of gender-based violence in Canada?
Select all that apply
Randomize
01 - Young men or boys
02 - Young women or girls
03 - Trans, intersex, and non-binary young people
04 - Young people who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or queer
05 – Young First Nations people
06 – Young Métis people
07 – Young Inuit people
08 - Young people who are newcomers to Canada
09 - Young people with low incomes
10 – Young people on social assistance
11 – Young people with mental health issues
12 – Racialized young people
13 – Young people living in rural and remote areas
14 – Young people are all equally likely to be a victim [Anchor] [Exclusive]
98 - Other groups of young people (specify) ____________ [Anchor]
99 – Don't know/prefer not to answer [Anchor] [Exclusive]
8. In Canada, who do you think is most likely to commit or perpetrate gender-based violence?
Select all that apply
Randomize
01 – Males or male-identified people in general
02 - Family members
03 - Former spouses/intimate (i.e., sexual and/or dating) partners
04 - Current spouses/intimate (i.e., sexual and/or dating) partners
05 - Personal friends
06 – Other (Specify) ______________
99 – Don't know/prefer not to answer [Anchor] [Exclusive]
9. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
Select one response for each
01 – Strongly agree
02 – Somewhat agree
03 – Somewhat disagree
04 – Strongly disagree
99 – Don't know/prefer not to answer
Randomize - Show in carousel format
a) When someone tries to control their partner by cutting off their access to money it is a form of abuse
b) People who witness domestic violence usually do not report it to the police
c) Most women could leave a violent relationship if they really wanted to
d) Verbal insults and threats are a form of violence
e) Bullying or teasing someone because they are LGBTQ2 is a form of gender-based violence
f) We do not take gender-based violence seriously enough in Canada
g) No matter what we do, there will always be gender-based violence in Canada
h) If I wanted more information on gender-based violence, I'd know where to find it
i) Everyone has personal responsibility and a role to play in ending gender-based violence
10. Where do you think gender-based violence is most likely to happen?
Select up to 3 responses
Randomize
01 - In the home
02 - In workplaces
03 - At school
04 - On public transit (including an airport, flight, train etc.)
05 - In a bar, restaurant, or dance club
06 - In public (e.g., on the street, in a mall, in a store)
07 – Online
08 – Somewhere else (SPECIFY)_______________ [ANCHOR]
99 – Don't know/prefer not to answer [ANCHOR]
11. Which of the following do you think are the main factors that contribute to the problem of gender-based violence in Canada?
Select all that apply
Randomize
01 – Racism
02 – Poverty
03 – Substance abuse (e.g., drug addiction, alcoholism etc.)
04 – Economic anxiety (e.g., stress about job, cost of living etc.)
05 – A culture that encourages men to be violent
06 – Mental health problems
07 – Sexism
08 – Homophobia
98 – Something else (SPECIFY)_____________ [ANCHOR]
99 – Don't know/prefer not to answer [ANCHOR]
12. How common do you think it is for young women (14 to 24 years old) in Canada to be the victims of gender-based violence? Do you think gender-based violence ___?
Select one response
01 – Is rare and only affects a very small number of young women (less than 5%)
02 - Happens occasionally and affects a significant minority of young women (5%-39%)
03 – Is pretty common and affects a lot of young women (40%-59%)
04 – Is everywhere and most young women experience it (60%-100%)
99 – Don't know/prefer not to answer
AWARENESS OF WAGE
13. WAGE is the Government of Canada's Department for Women and Gender Equality. Before today, how familiar were you with WAGE?
Select one response
01 – Very familiar
02 – Somewhat familiar
03 – Not very familiar
04 – Had never heard of WAGE
99 – Don't know/prefer not to answer
14. Have you or would you ever visit the WAGE website [women-gender-equality.canada.ca] for more information about gender-based violence?
Select one response
01 – Yes, I have already visited the WAGE website
02 – No, but I would visit the WAGE website in the future
03 – No and don't think I would visit the WAGE website in the future
99 – Don't know/prefer not to answer
15. To what extent would you trust information about gender-based violence that comes from WAGE (Department for Women and Gender Equality)? Would you trust it…
Select one response
01 – A lot
02 – Somewhat
03 – Not very much
04 – Not at all
99 – Don't know/prefer not to answer
SOCIAL VALUES
16. The following is a series of opinions we often hear expressed. Please answer according to what you think or do personally, disregarding what other members of your household or friends might think. Do you totally agree, agree somewhat, disagree somewhat or totally disagree with each of the following?
01 – Totally agree
02 – Agree somewhat
03 – Disagree somewhat
04 – Totally disagree
99 – Don't know/prefer not to answer
Randomize - Show in carousel format
1. Whatever people say, men have a certain natural superiority over women, and nothing can change this
2. In a household where both partners are working, it is not right for the wife to earn more than the husband
3. The father of the family must be the master in his own house
4. Violence can sometimes be exciting
5. When a person can't take it anymore and feels like he/she is about to explode, a little violent behavior can relieve the tension. It's no big deal
6. Getting married and having children is the only real definition of a family
7. Society should regard people of the same sex who live together as being the same as a married couple
8. Racism in Canada is by and large a thing of the past
9. Overall, there is too much immigration. It threatens the purity of the country
10. Immigrants of different races and ethnic groups should set aside their cultural backgrounds and try to blend into the Canadian culture
11. No matter what I do, I have a lot of trouble changing the course of events that affect me
12. Whatever I do, my destiny is pre-determined, and history takes its course
EXPERIENCE WITH GBV / BYSTANDER INTERVENTION
This section of the survey includes some questions about your own experiences with gender-based violence. You can skip any questions that you are not comfortable answering.
17. If you or someone you knew experienced or witnessed gender-based violence, where would you go for help?
Select all that apply
Randomize
01 – A counselling service or helpline, like Kids Help Phone or a Rape/Sexual Assault Crisis Centre
02 – A parent
03 - Another adult family member, like a grandparent or aunt/uncle
04 – A trusted adult outside your family, like a teacher or a coach
05 – Police
06 – Doctor, nurse, or hospital
07 – A friend
08 – I probably would not seek help at all
98 – Other (Please specify): __________________ [ANCHOR]
99 – Don't know/prefer not to answer [ANCHOR]
18. Have you ever personally witnessed gender-based violence in your life?
Select one response
01 – Yes, I have
02 – No, I have not SKIP TO Q.22
99 – Don't know/prefer not to answer SKIP TO Q.22
ASK ALL WHO WITNESSED GBV IN Q. 18:
19. Where have you witnessed gender-based violence?
Select all that apply
Randomize
01 - In my own family
02 - Among my friends
03 - At work
04 - At school
05 - In a bar or club
06 - In a public place, such as a mall or on the street
07 – Online
98 – Somewhere else (SPECIFY)_______________ [ANCHOR]
99 – Don't know/prefer not to answer [ANCHOR]
20. When you witnessed gender-based violence in the past what, if anything, did you do?
Select all that apply
Randomize
01 – I did not do anything [ANCHOR] ASK Q. 21
02 – I talked to the victim and tried to be supportive
03 – I stepped in and tried to stop it myself
04 – I contacted the police
05 – I went online to try to find out what I ought to do
98 – I did something else (specify)______ [ANCHOR]
99 – Don't know/prefer not to answer [ANCHOR] ASK ALL WHO SAY THEY DID NOT DO ANYTHING IN Q. 20:
21. What were the main reasons you did not do anything when you witnessed gender-based violence?
Select all that apply
Randomize
01 – I didn't think it was a big deal
02 – I was scared I would be harmed too
03 – I didn't know at the time that it was violence
04 – I was worried that I would get in trouble
05 – I didn't want to get involved
06 – I didn't know what to do
98 – Other (SPECIFY)____________________
99 – Don't know/prefer not to answer
22. To what extent do you think that the following groups of people have a responsibility to do something when they see someone experiencing gender-based violence?
Select one response for each
01 – Major responsibility
02 – Some responsibility
03 – No responsibility
99 – Don't know/prefer not to answer
Randomize - Show in carousel format
a) Friends
b) Family members
c) Strangers / Bystanders who do not know the people involved
23. Have you ever personally experienced gender-based violence?
Select one response
01 – Yes, I have
02 – No, I haven't SKIP TO DEMOS
99 – Don't know/prefer not to answer SKIP TO DEMOS
ASK ALL WHO EXPERIENCED GBV IN Q. 23
Note to those who answered Yes and experienced GBV in Q. 23
"If you feel you would like to access any support services for victims of gender-based violence, there is a list of resources here [INSERT LINK]. You can also contact Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868.
24. When you experienced gender-based violence did you seek any help or support?
Select one response
01 – Yes, I did
02 – No, I didn't SKIP TO Q. 27
99 – Don't know/prefer not to answer SKIP TO Q.28
ASK ALL WHO SOUGHT SUPPORT IN Q. 24
25. Where did you seek support when you experienced gender-based violence?
Select all that apply
Randomize
01 – A counselling service or helpline, like Kids Help Phone or a Rape/Sexual Assault Crisis Centre
02 – A parent
03 - Another adult family member, like a grandparent or aunt/uncle
04 – A trusted adult outside your family, like a teacher or a coach
05 – Police
06 – Doctor, nurse, or hospital
07 – A friend
98 – Other (Please specify): __________________
99 – Don't know/prefer not to answer
26. How helpful was the support you sought when you experienced gender-based violence?
Select one response
01 – Very helpful
02 – Somewhat helpful
03 – Not very helpful
04 – Not at all helpful
99 – Don't know/prefer not to answer
ASK ALL WHO DID NOT SEEK SUPPORT IN Q. 24
27. What was the main reason why you did not seek out any help or support when you experienced gender-based violence?
Type response below
| 99 – Don't know/prefer not to answer |
ASK ALL
28. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements on the issue of consent in a sexual situation?
Select one response for each
01 – Strongly agree
02 – Somewhat agree
03 – Somewhat disagree
04 – Strongly disagree
99 – Don't know/Prefer not to answer
Randomize - Show in carousel format
a. Consent must be given at each step in a sexual encounter.
b. If someone begins to "fool around" (sexual foreplay), but then says they don't want to go any further, there is no longer any consent to continue.
c. If a person doesn't physically resist sex, they have given consent.
d. If you consent to have sex with someone once, you are consenting to any future sex with that person.
e. If you and your sexual partner are both drunk, you don't have to worry about consent.
f. Unless you clearly say "no" to sex, you are giving consent
g. Inviting someone home means consent for sex.
RESPONDENT DEMOGRAPHICS – ASK ALL
Finally, here are some questions that will help us analyze the results of this survey. . .
E. Are you currently…?
Select one response
01 - In school full-time
02 - In school part-time
03 - Not a student
99 - Prefer not to answer
F. Are you currently…?
Select one response
01 - Working full-time
02 - Working part-time
03 - Not working
99 - Prefer not to answer
G. Which of the following is the highest level of education that you have completed?
Select one response
01 - Less than high school diploma or equivalent/I am still in high school
02 - High school diploma or equivalent
03 - Trade certificate or diploma (apprenticeship, technical institute, trade or vocational school)
04 - College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma (other than trades certificates or diplomas)
05 - University (undergraduate degree such as BA or BSc etc.)
06 - University (post-graduate or professional degree such as MA, PhD, medical, law, teaching, engineering etc.)
99 - Prefer not to answer
H. What language do you speak most often at home?
Select one response
01 - English
02 - French
03 – Another language
99 - Prefer not to answer
I. Were you born in Canada or in another country?
Select one response
01 – In Canada
02 – Another country
99 - Prefer not to answer
J. Do you identify as Indigenous, that is to say First Nation, Inuit or Métis?
Select all that apply
01 Yes, First Nation SKIP TO Q. L
02 Yes, Inuit SKIP TO Q. L
03 Yes, Métis SKIP TO Q. L
04 No, I am not Indigenous [EXCLUSIVE]
99 - Prefer not to answer [EXCLUSIVE]
ASK WLL WHO ARE NOT INDIGENOUS IN Q. J
K. Which of the following best describes your ethnic background, race, or nationality?
Select up to 2 responses
Randomize
01 – Black (African, Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Canadian, etc.)
02 – East/Southeast Asian (Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Thai, Malaysian, etc.)
03 – Latin American (Mexican, Central or South American)
04 – Middle Eastern/West Asian (Arab, North African, Iranian, Lebanese, Turkish, Kurdish, Afghan, etc.)
05 – South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Indo-Caribbean)
06 – White (Caucasian, European)
98 – Other (SPECIFY) ______________ [ANCHOR]
99 – Prefer not to answer [ANCHOR]
ASK ALL
L. Which of the following best describes you?
Select all that apply
01 – Straight (heterosexual)
02 – Gay
03 – Lesbian
04 – Bisexual
05 – Non-binary
06 – Transgender
07 – Two-spirit
98 – I identify another way (SPECIFY)___________________
99 – Prefer not to answer
M. Which of the following categories best describes your total household income? That is, the total income of all persons in your household combined, before taxes.
Select one response
01 - Under $20,000
02 - $20,000 to just under $40,000
03 - $40,000 to just under $60,000
04 - $60,000 to just under $80,000
05 - $80,000 to just under $100,000
06 - $100,000 to just under $150,000
07 - $150,000 and above
99 – Don't know/Prefer not to answer
N. And finally, to better understand how results vary by region, what are the first three digits of your postal code?
__ __ __
999 – Prefer not to answer
This completes the survey. On behalf of the Government of Canada, thank you for your valuable input.
Note that some statements about gender-based violence that appeared in this survey are not necessarily true and were used to help measure misconceptions.
It's important to understand what gender-based violence is in order to prevent it and address it by knowing when you're seeing it. You can access up to date information on gender-based violence by visiting the WAGE's Gender-based Violence Knowledge Centre.
If you are currently experiencing gender-based violence or know somebody that might be, contact a crisis line and/or reach any additional support services. You can also contact Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868.
In the coming months, the results of this survey will be available on the Library and Archives Canada website.