How is COVID-19 impacting women?

COVID-19 has taken the world by storm, altering everyday routines and the lives of millions. One group that stands out as especially vulnerable to the effects of the pandemic, is women. Women have been on and off the front lines during this pandemic, and just as the pandemic continues, their struggles persist. As noted by the UN, this pandemic deepens pre-existing inequalities as well as exposes vulnerabilities in our social, political, and economic systems. 

The Economic Impact

When looking through an economic perspective, we already saw the socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19 with collapsing markets, the closing and scaling down of businesses, and the millions of workers who are or are at risk of being unemployed. Recent evidence shows that women’s economic and productive lives are disproportionately affected in comparison to men. Women around the world generally earn less than men, hold less secure jobs, have less access to social protection, and are the majority of single-parent households. As a result, their ability to handle economic shock is weakened, leaving them more vulnerable.

COVID-19 also put the progress of women in the workforces at risk of regressing, especially with the layoffs in the service industry where women make up a large portion of the workforce. Additionally, in developing countries, where about 70% of women work in the informal economy where social interaction is vital, women are at a higher risk of unemployment because of the preventative measures of the pandemic. Steps have been taken to aid women in need by organizations such as the UN. The policies that the UN are implementing, emphasize equal representation of women in the COVID-19 response planning, the acknowledgment of the disproportionate socio-economic impact of the pandemic for women, and stress the women making up the vast majority of the front-line workforce.

The Impact on Health

The global pandemic has also caused a shift in priorities and resources, making it more difficult for women and girls to receive treatment, health services, and critical provisions such as sexual and reproductive health services. This results in heightened maternal mortality and increased rates of adolescent pregnancies, and sexually transmitted diseases especially in rural and marginalized communities. In Latin America and the Caribbean, about “18 million women will lose regular access to modern contraceptives” due to the circumstances of the pandemic. Moreover, due to occupational sex-segregation, women make up 70% of the health workforce and health facility service-staff, making them more at risk of exposure. The combination of the lack of available essential hygiene and sanitation items such as menstrual products heightens the vulnerability of women working in the front-lines. Specifically, when looking at race, COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted women of color due to the fact that they are more likely to hold jobs in industries that are at an increased risk of infection, as noted by recent data.

The pandemic has also taken a toll on the mental health of the women. According to a Total Brain survey, about 83% of women and 36% of men had experienced an increase in depressed moods since the pandemic hit. One of the main reasons why women may experience more depression and anxiety, then men is that women tend to be the central caretakers of the family. A study conducted by the USC’s Understanding Coronavirus in America Study has found that “one-third of working mothers in two-parent households reported they were the only ones providing care for their children, compared to one-tenth of working fathers.”

Conclusion

Although we are living in unprecedented times and witness these challenges every day, we must remember the power of unity and service as we aim to help those around us and give back to those who keep our communities running. 

How Can YOU Help?

For more information, you can visit, read, and follow @unwomen as well as @unitednations. Also, consider visiting the following extension to donate: https://donate.unwomen.org/en!

Works Cited

1. https://www.forbes.com/sites/mariaminor/2020/07/09/covid-19s-impact-on-womens-mental-health/#6f94adf5424f

2. https://news.usc.edu/171617/covid-19-women-job-losses-childcare-mental-health-usc-study/

3. 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