When it comes to work and health, are women and men different?

October 9, 2014 (Toronto, Ontario)―Although women make up nearly half of the labour force, much of what we know about the effect of work on health is based on research involving men or male-dominated workplaces. A new five-year research program in gender, work and health at the Institute for Work & Health (IWH) aims to help redress this imbalance.

IWH Scientist Dr. Peter Smith was awarded one of nine research chairs in gender, work and health funded by the Institute of Gender and Health at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. His research will focus on issues such as: why men and women face different injury risks, whether they face different challenges in returning to work after injury, and how work stress and chronic disease affect them differently.

Smith is officially launching his chair on Tuesday, October 14 in Toronto, where he will share details about his research plan and why it’s needed. By engaging with leading occupational health and safety stakeholders throughout the research process, this new research knowledge will help shape the development of gender- and sex-sensitive policies and practices to improve the health of all working Canadians, says Smith.

You can learn more from Smith about IWH's research program in gender, work and health in this video.

Event details:

Tuesday, October 14, 2014
11 a.m. ‒ 12:00 noon
Debates Room, Hart House
7 Hart House Circle
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario