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There is a yawning chasm in perceptions of the gender pay gap between men and women in Canada, but a majority of both genders agree that pay equality should be enshrined in law, a new survey has found. It also found that, among women, political leanings make a big difference in perceptions of pay equity.

Angus Reid Institute

In a poll of 1,501 employed Canadians, the Angus Reid Institute found that eight in 10 women (79 per cent) say the gender pay gap is a "serious issue" in Canada, but barely more than half — 51 per cent — of men agree. There were notable gaps in other related questions. "Across all age groups, male workers are at least twice as likely as their female peers to say that any gap in pay is based on the decisions that women make, rather than discrimination," Angus Reid said in a report. Watch: Iceland makes it illegal to pay women less than men. Story continues below.

Interestingly, younger men are more likely than older ones to believe the pay gap is the result of women's own choices. Forty-seven per cent of employed men aged 18 to 34 feel this way, compared to 33 per cent of men aged 55 and over. Among women, 76 or 77 per cent in all age groups disagreed. "These types of differences largely come down to the fact that one gender may be more aware of, alive to, or affected by the issue," Angus Reid executive director Shachi Kurl said in an email to HuffPost Canada. She noted that other studies have shown similar gender differences, on issues such as the #metoo movement and women in politics.

Angus Reid Institute