Subtitle 1: Has the pandemic hurt women more severely than men?
In times of crisis, we are often found with ample time to reflect and unravel the different ways in which our society — with its biases and disequilibria — has afflicted certain groups more, and in ways that other groups have not.
Across the globe, and in every sphere – from economy to social protection – the adverse impacts of COVID-19 are exacerbated for women, simply on the grounds of gender.
The pandemic has seen a 25% upwards surge in reports of domestic abuse amongst women, and this is not the first instance of a health crisis resulting in domestic gender-based violence. The World Economic Forum reports that these figures also rose extraordinarily during the 2014-16 and 2015-16 Ebola and Zika epidemics respectively. Stress associated with a global crisis, along with restrictions on moving out of the household and a strain on finances, has all but stimulated the risk for violence.
Spain saw a surge of 18% more calls to the emergency hotline for domestic violence in the first two weeks of lockdown alone, than in a two-week period a month prior.
In France, reports of domestic abuse have soared, increasing by approximately 36% compared to the pre-pandemic average.
Nadine Kaslow (PhD), a psychologist and professor at Emory University, correctly pointed out that pre-pandemic, victims or at-risk women could flee dangerous situations by staying with family, seeking shelter elsewhere, or filing protective orders — but such options and amenities are now largely unavailable due to global health concerns.
Quote placeholder: “I urge all governments to put women’s safety first as they respond to the pandemic.’’ – António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations
The gendered impact of the coronavirus pandemic spans beyond increased risk of gender-based violence.
While the pandemic’s impact on the global economy is undoubtedly profound, with entire industries and supply chains being disrupted, and businesses needing to downscale operations, there is increasing evidence suggesting that women’s livelihoods are being affected disproportionately more than men’s. This is largely due to the fact that, around the world, women generally earn less (and subsequently save less); hold more precarious jobs (and are more often in the informal sector), and resultantly have a lower capacity to absorb economic shocks than men.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), women account for 70% of health and social-service workers worldwide, placing them at the forefront of the battle against the crisis, and at greater risk of exposure to the virus. The underlying injustice lies in the fact that the WHO also reports that female healthcare workers earn 11% less than their male counterparts in general. This lack of equal pay — and lack of hazard pay as compensation for the strenuous circumstances in which front-line staff operate to combat the virus — is affecting single mothers and two-parent households alike (albeit more so amongst single mothers), with women performing upwards of 70% of unpaid care work in the household either way. The mental and financial strain that this wage inequality has on working mothers in healthcare, paired with the additional risks of a global emergency situation, has unfortunately placed women far more at risk (of contracting the virus and of falling into poverty) than men.
Besides the healthcare sector, other female-dominated jobs are more at risk due to the fact that women are disproportionately represented in the very sectors that have been most adversely affected by the pandemic. This includes accommodation and food services, domestic care, and retail jobs.
McKinsey & Co. reports that women’s jobs are 1.8 times more vulnerable to the economic fallout caused by the pandemic, than men’s jobs. As such, there is an inordinately high representation of women in the unemployment rate: women comprise 39% of global unemployment, but ‘account for 54% of job losses’.
With schools and child-care facilities remaining closed, vacancies that do open up are not accessible to women, the majority of whom carry a disproportionately large responsibility for childcare. According to the International Labour Organization, caregiving is a grossly imbalanced household task, with women performing over 75% of total hours of unpaid care work. This figure has not changed drastically, even if more men and father figures are staying home due to COVID-19. Needless to say, this lack of flexibility regarding splitting caregiving equitably leaves women more restricted in their efforts to return to work.
Subtitle 2: What can be done to remedy this?
COVID-19 has not only proven a challenge for global health systems, but a test of humanity and empathy. We are not all affected by this pandemic and recession equally, so it is up to us to lead the path to recovery: literally, against the virus – but also towards a more equitable future.
While generous fiscal stimulus packages have been implemented by several governments to mitigate the struggles of unemployment, policymakers must also direct their attention towards actively aiding struggling minorities, including but not limited to women and young girls.
Quote placeholder: “Women will be the hardest hit by this pandemic but they will also be the backbone of recovery in communities. Every policy response that rec- ognizes this will be more impactful for it.” – United Nations Women
Supporting victims of domestic violence starts with moving services online to make them more accessible during a time where women may not necessarily be able to leave their homes. In the event that they are able to leave, victims should be made aware of designated safe spaces (inconspicuous areas) where they can report abuse without drawing the perpetrator’s attention. Doing so will help eliminate fear, one of the most influential factors in discouraging victims from coming forward.
Besides increased advocacy and introducing more accessible resources, solutions can include the appointment of domestic violence shelters as essential services, and directly increasing financial support to these organizations. By equipping them with the necessary resources to operate at higher capacity while maintaining physical distancing protocol, governments can simultaneously ensure the safety of victims while committing to the safety and wellbeing of the employees involved. Additionally, businesses and schools not operating may repurpose their unused spaces to expand these shelters’ capacity, in an effort to accommodate more victims.
In order to assist the reintegration of women in the workforce and curb major gender disparities in the economic sphere, policies should aim to specifically target women and disadvantaged minorities. Sectors where women comprise a large proportion (retail, tourism, food & beverage) have seen the most disruption in supply chains. As such, they should have access to a productive form of compensation: credit, loans, and grants, so as to retain the female labour force beyond the pandemic.
Beyond the aforementioned industries, women’s health must be supported. Special attention should be directed towards making Personal Protective Equipment better-fitting for female healthcare workers. While over 75% of NHS staff are women, the majority are put at greater risk at their jobs due to ill-fitting protective gear, including masks, gloves, and face shields. Healthcare workers’ jobs are difficult and dangerous enough, so ensuring that everyone can find appropriately sized PPE can at least alleviate unnecessary risk.
In less developed countries where women cannot access education, we are unlikely to find female-owned businesses and employees that require financial support. The extremely low literacy rates among women in such countries emphasizes the need for governments to make messages and resources regarding protection against COVID-19 more accessible. Correct, updated, and simply-phrased information about the virus should also be distributed in conflict-ridden areas, to reach all vulnerable populations, including internally displaced people.
The abrupt and infectious nature of COVID-19 has undoubtedly taken us all by surprise. However, eight months into 2020, and we have still not seen massive policy changes regarding tackling the gendered impact of this health and economic crisis. It is up to us to push for this progress, not only to minimize the afflictions of COVID-19, but to rise from the pandemic as more equitable, developed, and empathetic human beings.