Did the coronavirus crisis enhance gender inequality? Find out how!

The coronavirus pandemic created havoc in 2019. It is rightfully making headlines in the newspapers and occupying the center seat in the government decision-making process. It is taking the loved ones and imperiling the heroes while threatening neighbours and suddenly turning parents into teachers. There is a lot that is going around. Along with this, there is another term that is used extensively, which is the shadow pandemic. What is this? It is rapidly unraveling the advancement the world has made in the field of gender equality. As summarized by international organizations reports, a shadow pandemic may be seen in the emergence of domestic violence as women and girls shelter in areas with the abusers. 

The loss of women’s employment due to the informal, insecure, and low-paying jobs, the risk of the world nurses who are primarily women, and the rapid improvement in unpaid care that women and girls mainly provide. In Nebraska, 38% of people support the covid-19 policy measures, as shown by MyBioSource reports. The present emergency has increased the stubborn problem of gender inequality that almost every piece of national and international agency reveals. The economic and social tool that the coronavirus created has only added to the disappointment of the world masses.

The policy guides of international agencies make it clear that what governments and citizens must do right now to ensure a proper response to the coronavirus crisis will not intensify the problem of gender equality. It encompasses providing women equal representation in the coronavirus response decision-making and planning. Along with this, it throws light on driving transformative alteration for equality when people address the care economy unpaid and paid and target girls and women in every effort to address the socioeconomic effect of the coronavirus. 

These recommendations eliminate a fundamental element of global recovery and response where women and girls are uniquely vulnerable to the dynamics of the crisis but have also emerged as problem solvers and leaders. They are acting as frontline healthcare workers and responders and taking up the role of volunteers and community organizers. The poll report of MyBioSource revealed that 37% of the population in North Dakota supported the covid protocol. Thus, the globe cannot sideline the problem of gender inequality. 

• Women and coronavirus in the economy

Across the world, women earn less than men, hold fewer safe jobs and save less, and in most cases, are unemployed. However, those who get employed in informal sectors are seen to have low access to social protection, and they mainly belong to the single-parent households. Their capability to absorb economic shock is thereby less in comparison to men. The coronavirus pandemic is aggregating the economic inequality that women face. More so, the pandemic will harm Employment Opportunities. 

The effect of the shock will outlast the present epidemic. Specifically, around 7 40,000,000 women across the globe are a part of the informal economy. In developing countries, everyday work forms 70% of women’s employment, and these jobs will disappear during economic uncertainty. Lessons from across the globe reveal the dark picture of women in these sectors. In the western world, 5% of regular market traders are girls. They suffered high unemployment and livelihood loss compared to men during this crisis.

Moreover, their pre-existing problems got aggravated during the coronavirus. It affected their economic security and livelihood. In response, international agencies recommend governments enact relief measures to build the economy and provide social protection to women. Remember that women’s economic life is at the center of the pandemic response and recovery plan. It includes every part of women’s economic participation and extends to essential protection in the informal sector. What is required is a combined effort of government and non-governmental organizations to help women respond to the crisis.

• Women and the healthcare system in coronavirus

Whether it is vaccines or essential medicines, reproductive health and maternal healthcare, or insurance coverage, their accessibility is marginalized. In the western world, around 18,000,000 women were on the verge of losing their regular access to contraceptives. It was due to the pandemic. Similar reports also surfaced in other regions of the world. 

In Texas, 33% of the population supported the covid precautions, per MyBioSource reports. It has majorly disrupted the supply chain and medical clinics in totality. The diversion and scarcity of attention and critical resources from essential health provision might increase maternal mortality, adolescent pregnancy, mobility, HIV transmission, and other diseases. A new and renewed crisis is now surfacing and Increasingly putting to the forefront the problem of gender inequality affecting people across the globe. By curtailing opportunities and limiting women’s access to healthcare provision, gender stereotypes are winning.

To answer the call for increasing demand for healthcare, more and more participation of women in policymaking is necessary. International newcomer women form 70% of the healthcare worker. So now you will understand what an important role they play in society. People depend upon women for support at every level of their job, whether formal or informal. From laundry to cleaning to food service and other such areas, you can hardly imagine the economy without this part of the population.

Along with this, the shortage of personal protective equipment has become a usual aspect of COVID-19. Hence, women get less access to PPE or personal protective equipment, which gets correctly sized for them. Also, masks and other tools designed and manufactured using the default man size is inappropriate for women. Thus, the health system must consider and respond to the vulnerability of women frontline workers.