What is meant by the equality of women and men?
Quick answer: Men and women are equal under the law. In our practice tests 98% of 87 answers were correct, and the most common mistake is choosing “Women may now go to school and enter the professional workforce”.
Why is this the correct answer?
Equality of women and men means both are equal under the law. Women have the same legal rights in voting, property, employment, and all other areas of Canadian life.
Study Tip
The concept of equality between women and men in Canada refers to the idea that both sexes should have equal rights and opportunities under the law. Think about the fundamental principles of Canadian society and the role of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
What should you know about this topic?
In Canada, men and women are equal under the law. Discover Canada states that Canada's openness and generosity do not extend to barbaric cultural practices that tolerate spousal abuse, honour killings, female genital mutilation, forced marriage or other gender-based violence. People guilty of these crimes are severely punished under Canada's criminal laws.
Equality of women and men is protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees equality rights to every individual regardless of sex. This means women and men have the same legal rights to vote, run for office, own property, work, receive equal treatment from government, and make choices about their own lives. Governments, courts and employers must treat women and men fairly, and discrimination based on sex is against the law.
The road to equality took time. Many women in Canada gained the right to vote during and after the First World War. Manitoba was the first province to grant women the vote in 1916. By 1918 most Canadian women could vote in federal elections, and Quebec granted women the provincial vote in 1940. Agnes Macphail became the first woman elected to Parliament in 1921. For the test, link this question with Charter rights, voting history and Canadian values of fairness.
Why are the other answers wrong?
- Men and women must both do housework: How families share chores is a personal matter, not what legal equality means.
- A woman may now become Prime Minister: This is true but narrow; the principle is broader legal equality in all areas.
- Women may now go to school and enter the professional workforce: This describes one result of equality, but the principle itself is equal treatment under the law.
What is the most common mistake?
Some answers describe social changes or household tasks. The core idea is legal equality: women and men have the same rights under the law.
How can you remember the answer?
"Same law, same rights": the scales of justice weigh men and women the same.
Original data
How many people get this question right?
98% of 87 practice answers from about 69 people were correct. The most common wrong answer is "Women may now go to school and enter the professional workforce", chosen 2% of the time. The data covers practice tests on BecomeACitizen.ca from March 31, 2026 to September 30, 2026.
How hard is this question compared with others?
It is the 5th easiest of the 167 questions we have enough data to rank. The average for the Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship chapter is 86% correct, and the average across all questions is 75%. You need 75% to pass the real test.
These are practice questions written from the official Discover Canada guide. IRCC does not publish the real test questions. See the full ranking in the 20 most-missed citizenship test questions or browse more Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship questions.
Practice This Chapter
Test yourself with questions from Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship. Timed mock tests, instant scoring, and detailed explanations.
Which part of Discover Canada is this question from?
This question is from the Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship section of the Canadian citizenship test. The test consists of 20 multiple-choice questions drawn from the official Discover Canada study guide. You need to score at least 75% (15 out of 20 correct) to pass.
This chapter has 33 questions in our database. Studying chapter by chapter is one of the most effective ways to prepare, as it helps you build deep understanding of each topic before moving to the next.
How should you study for the citizenship test?
Start by reading the complete how-to-pass guide, then work through each chapter in the study mode. When you feel ready, take a full exam simulation with the real 45-minute time limit.