COVID 19 and its Relationship to Gender in Terms of Work, Families, Childcare, and Marriage
Introduction
The economic and social downturn experienced during the current pandemic, covid 19, has a substantial effect on gender. Traditionally, a regular recession often adversely impacts men’s workforce more compared to female’s employment. The same experience does not apply to the corona virus issue since social distancing measures has changed every aspect of life across the world. Based on the analysis in various policies, the impacts of the pandemic are exacerbated for women by virtue of their gender. The closure of daycare and learning institutions has increased child care at home, which is socially assumed to be women’s roles. Besides, increased care needs for the elderly, and all this means the majority of women are subjected to unpaid labor. According to early reports, the virus has killed and physically affected more men, a factor increasing compounded adverse economic effects in society (United Nations, 2020).
Generally, a higher percentage of women earn less and hold insecure job positions, and this has worsened after the pandemic. In addition to the economic and social stress, the epidemic has exponentially increased gender-based violence (United Nations, 2020). Women, who are often the victims, are forced to observe lockdown measures in the same houses with the abusers. All these implications reflect the Second Shift because the expression of gender roles is based on societal norms, as emphasized in Mill’s sociological imagination (Gaikwad, 2020).The present paper seeks to focus on the Covid impacts, particularly on how gender roles have changed in the face of the pandemic as emphasized in various policy briefs. Reflection of the Second Shift in these implications will also be based on Wright Mills’ analysis for better evaluation of the long term solution.
Covid 19 Issue and its relationship to Gender
Economic Impacts (Work, Child Care and Families)
The impacts of Covid 19 pandemic are felt across the globe not only in the health sector, but also as a major economic downturn. Due to the pandemic, the world is forced to observe social distance measures, a factor which has disrupted supply chains and market. Such socio-economic downturn means millions of people have lost their jobs as more organizations collapse. The world is about to experience a major recession, which might strike differently from all other downturns in the history (United Nations, 2020). Based on the International Labor Organization (ILO) reports, lockdown whether partial or full has affected the 81 percent of the total work force globally (Monitor I.L.O, 2020). Although both genders are suffering from the Covid 19 blow, emerging evidence indicate that women are more affected. Over the last one decade women have profoundly contributed to the global workforce, but this is likely to change since their productive and economic activities are disproportionately affected.
Traditionally, majority of women globally hold less secure employment positions and this means their income and savings are lower compared to men. Besides, most women lack social protection, which is still determined by the saving rates (Alone et al., 2020). All this means women are less likely to absorb economic shocks while men have a better capacity to survive in this recession. Based on Wright Mills’ idea of social imagination, a person’s identity is socially constructed according to the normative evaluation of themselves in relation to the broader society (Gaikwad, 2020). For instance, social power given to people determines their gender identities and this is currently reflected in the effects of this pandemic. As women financially struggle in this crisis, schools closure has posed an additional challenge at homes. All day centers are closed, which means even working women will be forced to take care of their children. UNESCO (2020) reports show that more than 1.3 billion young learners and millions of tutors are stuck home as a result of Covid 19. Often, working parents get assistance from grandparents, but this is now impossible due to lockdown measures. Therefore, childcare solely has become parents’ duties, mainly women.
While women concentrate on the childcare and family duties, their performance at work may be affected, hence, lay-offs. Such economic changes will adversely impact the already weak women’s labor force across the world. In turn, women might be limited socially and economically to support themselves and their families. Despite some women’s attempts to become egalitarian partner or mother as emphasized in the Second Shift concept, the Covid pandemic tends to limit the required economic powers (Van Gorp, 2013). Therefore, although the pandemic has put many things on hold around the world, a significant lesson concerning gender has emerged.
Unlike other roles or labor, the intensified care for children, the sick and the elderly at home is based on the unpaid economy basis. Report show there is gross gender imbalances in this unpaid assignment whereby men are less concerned than women in home-based Covid 19 responses (United Nations, 2020). As emphasized, women have been engaging in unpaid labor even before the pandemic hit the world, which means Covid is widening the gender-gap in terms of division of labor. The unpaid care sector is often overlooked in the pandemic response and this is unfortunate since it may deepen the existing inequalities. For instance, the healthcare facilities are currently struggling with the increasing Covid cases. Some patients are discharged early, which means families carry the burden of offering proper healthcare to them (United Nations, 2020). Simultaneously, there are non-Covid patients with chronic illnesses at home still in need of intense care. Although few men might respond to the pandemic home care, women are reported to be in the forefront. Therefore, higher percentage of unpaid labor in terms of healthcare is associated with women, hence, reflecting the Second Shift.
The Covid 19 burden is also felt across young girls particularly adolescents as the recent research shows they spend more hours engaging in domestic chores (United Nations, 2020). On the other hand, their male counterparts are less involved in the home duties. Notably, as young girls continue taking domestic roles, millions of them may drop out of school. Among the vulnerable girls in this pandemic include those in developing nations subjected to extreme poverty.
Solutions
Solving this gender-based economic problem should begin immediately after the pandemic primarily aiming to implement sustainable and equal economies. For instance, the global market should establish gender-responsive policies to ensure both men and women can access social protection. Besides, women’s economic interests should be considered in the recovery plans of the pandemic. An excellent example of response strategies is reflected Iin the following incidents; According to the United Nations (2020) report, close to $5 trillion was passed in 105 nations as a fiscal response measure in March. Other nations responded to the pandemic by introducing employment programs and workers’ social protection in April.
Social security such as insurances is the primary factor, which equips workers well to absorb any form of economic recession (United Nations, 2020). Relating to the current implications of the pandemic, it is necessary for the above mentioned responses and future policies to include gender disaggregated details, mostly on women. For instance, governments can provide proper access to loans in women’s supply chain, since they have been affected the most. Other issues to be solved in gender lens include equal pay and removal of barriers that limit women in economic schemes, especially those dominated by men. Finally, society should close gender-based education to promote women’s participation in the formal market. Proper implementation of all these measures should promote sustainable and equitable economic growth. In case of another pandemic, both genders will have equal absorbers towards the crisis.
Solving women’s unpaid care requires an in-depth evaluation of the major roots in the Second Shift ideology. Unpaid labor associated with women and young girls has been the key driver of inequality and this is evident from the current crisis. It does not only affect low education performance and wage inequality, but can also trigger mental complications (United Nations, 2020). As the economic policies focus on reforming resilient structures, they should also consider impacting unpaid labor. Responding to this issue does not necessarily mean women should stop offering home based care. The fact remains changing division of labor between the two genders may not be achieved soon, but balancing is needed for the well being of the society. Through sociological imagination, women tend to accept the traditional norm that domestic roles are part of their lives. Although the duties may be mentally or economically straining, women the universal force influences women to accept their positions. Both women and men require adequate support for sustainable growth in formal and informal sector. For instance, national governments can provide special social security inclusively for home caregivers, mainly women, to compensate the overload of the unpaid duties.
Marriages (Domestic Violence)
The economic and social stresses as a result of Covid 19 are increasingly contributing to domestic violence across the world. Homes are crowded due to lockdown restrictions and mental stress increases substances use to manage the economic downturn crisis. Prior to the pandemic, research had shown that one in every three women become victims of domestic violence in their lives (United Nations, 2020). Unfortunately, lockdown measures have forced these women to entirely stay in the same houses with their abusers during his Covid period. Although it might be too quick for researchers to give an exact data of violence victims in this season, recent reports show women are being physically and mentally abused by their spouses (Usher et al., 2020). The abuse cases are likely to increase since women, the main victims, may not have private spaces to call for help. Also, employment lay-offs may limit force some women to seek financial security, hence, bearing all the consequences including being physically assaulted (United Nations, 2020). Based on such experiences, the pandemic seems to be used as a threat whereby the abusers exploit women. Domestic violence victims’ responders like polices and social workers are currently overwhelmed by the Covid 19 issue. The responders have shifted focus to the crisis, thus, new measures are critically needed to help violence victims.
Measures
The time is now for local governments to prioritize women’s protection and any other victim of domestic violence. Married women or those staying with male partners are more vulnerable to violence and for this reason, government should designate shelters with equipped responders (United Nations, 2020). For instance, hotels and learning institutions are now empty, and can be re-purposed to accommodate violence victims. However, these are short-term measures, which mean humanitarian bodies should implement new policies to end domestic violence.
Conclusion
The Covid 19 crisis is heightening gender based inequalities and this is experienced in all spheres. The analysis in the present paper is based on reports from various policies and recent reports from international organizations. The United Nations, being the primary source of the implications associated with the pandemic on gender, emphasize women and young girls are the main victims. Economically, women seem to have weak absorbers to the current economic downturn. Besides, women and young girls are at the forefront for the unpaid labor including mainly taking care of children, the sick, and the elderly. Although men are also affected, majority of them have access to social protection, hence, can easily survive this crisis. Covid 19 issue may end soon, but the international economic sector should implement more gender-inclusive policies. Through this, both women and men will have equal accessibility to social protection and prepare for any pandemic.
References
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Gaikwad, V. (2020). Sociological Imagination. Retrieved from http://studymaterial.unipune.ac.in:8080/jspui/bitstream/123456789/3833/1/Sociological%20imagination-converted.pdf
Monitor, I. L. O. (2020). COVID-19 and the world of work. Retrieved from https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/@dgreports/@dcomm/documents/briefingnote/wcms_743146.pdf
UNESCO. (2020). Press Release. Retrieved from https://en.unesco.org/news/137-billion-students-now-home-covid-19-school-closures-expand-ministers-scale-multimedia
United Nations. (2020). Policy Brief: The Impact of Covid 19 on Women. Retrieved from https://www.unwomen.org/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/library/publications/2020/policy-brief-the-impact-of-covid-19-on-women-en.pdf?la=en&vs=1406
Usher, K., Bhullar, N., Durkin, J., Gyamfi, N., & Jackson, D. (2020). Family violence and COVID‐19: Increased vulnerability and reduced options for support. International journal of mental health nursing.
Van Gorp, K. (2013). The second shift: Why it is diminishing but still an issue. The Review: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Research, 14(1), 31-37.