WITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 1988, PAGE 19 Barlow sees evolution in Canada tow ardsý a two'class Society By DEBBIE LUCILUK Maude Barlow believes that Canada is quickly moving toward a two-class society, the very affluent at the top and the rest of society, struggling to succeed financially and socially. 'We are moving to a two-class system, not a continuum," Barlow said to about 250 guests, volunteers and employees of Auberge, a local shelter for abused women, at the "Tribute to Auberge" dinner Barlow has an iflustrious record dealing with women's issues and social justice through years of volunteer work, employment with the federal governmnent, and speaking to groups on these subjects. Now the specal advisor to John Turner on social justice issues, she informs the Opposition party of such issues as women's rights, ethnic minority rights and "the widening gap between rich and poor." Prior to hier appintment, she served former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau as senior advisor on women's issues. She also holds the post of "visiting scholar in residence" at Queen's University. Barlow remarked ' that women's efforts in volunteer work to rr.ake a better life for ahl are often deemed insignificant by society. Women ofren say "they didn't do anything" when their involvement with volunteer groups (such as Auberge) is affecting a great deal of good in their communities. "We have denigrated what women in our society have done," she said. "Slaughter-house workers, sewer cleaners and housewives are at the bottom of the list) of important roles in society." There have been enormous changes for women in a very short time, she said. For example, it was flot until the 1950's that women could become civil servants. Women no longer have to choose between a career and home life: "Some teachers loved teaching and had. to choose between a career and homelife in the 195O's,". Barlow; said. 'We have corne a long way in a short period of time. Look at people in this city building their dream," she added, referring to the Auberge volunteers and others. I arn very pleased, very positive and very excited." Commenting on the changing class structure in Canada and the widening gap, between rich and poor, Barlow said, "The rich are getting richer, the poor getting poorer. Most of us are in the middle group, and the rich group is getting smaller. A lot of people are falling out at the bottom with housing prices and child care issues. It really divides on gender Uines." .Permanent jpbs, requiring highly skilled persons are at the top of the income scale. But 85 per cent of womeiý work in service jobs,. in less anienable working conditions, and at less pay, according to Barlow. ltes not just single mothers that are dealing with poverty today - increasingly it's young families. "We still have the mental picture of men at work, women at home and two children. It's not like that anymore."' Barlow foresees a "feminization of poverty in the future." Free trade will only'make the situation worse, Barlow believes., SUe woýId like te see guaranteed inconieor aIl people in Canada. "iIMo4t people wouîd like the dgnity of work over welfare," Barlowl said. The free trade agreement will make Canada resemble tUe U.S., which has "great abundance and great poverty. "This is accepted in the U.S.," she said, "and I was disturbed and moved by the extremes I found i New York while on a visit th4re.tI have neyer been so aware hat we have something good here. This country has buit a consensus between rnarket forces and' government involvement." She contends that this is why we are better off than the Anienicans. "Weý will lose what is most essentially Canadian in free trade," she iaid, xnentioning the welfare system. Canada's superior social, educational and medical progr ams will probably be abandoned in a free trade deal as they will be deemed "too expensive." In short, Barlow believes that a free trade deal "will be harmful to those most vulnerable in this country." The Meech Lake accord is equaîly negative for Canada, Barlow said. "We're talking about provinces having the right to opt out of social assistance and health programs." This would mean inequality of treatment from province to province. "What I* see Iack of compassion in a premier, I want a return to national institutions to control this country," she said, referring te B.C.'s Bill Vander Zalm's cuts in social assistance te single mothers and refusal to fund abortions. "Are we a sexually healthy society? Or do we hoîd shared values that are not healthy?" Barlo w asked as she spoke on the increase of sexual and non-sexual violence in Canada. "We have not had a sexual revolution. In a healthy society, we could& not touch our children referring to sexual abuse. A million men beat up the women they're with every year. Tlhese are very serious issues to deal with," she said. The equal, balance of power and property could alleviate violence, according to Barlow. She blames television programming, much of it American, for a good deal of -the "i11" society is suffering today. "We see 600 times. more assaults, 300 times more rapes on T.V. than- we -have seen in the past," she said. A lot of this, she added, is American programming, such as Miami Vice. "Children are learning social and sexual values from Miai Vice. That scares me." She believes a cultural environment that is Canadian and works for the survival of humanity is part of the solution to -the problem. 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