The Gendered Impacts of COVID-19: Evidence, Causes, and Rectifying Policies

Abstract:

The COVID-19 pandemic is having a devastating global impact. It has become increasingly clear that women have experienced disproportionately negative social, economical, and physical impacts from the pandemic. As the world recovers from this crisis, an opportunity arises to address the causes of this gender disparity. This paper sets out to find the causes behind the gendered impact of COVID-19, and how these causes can be addressed using public policy to ensure a gender-sensitive recovery. Women healthcare workers in the US who have care-dependents such as children, were selected as the target group of focus. An examination of a wide variety of literature regarding COVID-19 and other recent previous pandemics was conducted, focusing on the impacts on men and women in terms of employment, domestic and care responsibilities, health, and representation in decision making. The prevalent gender-gap in society, a lack of female representation in decision making, and the absence of appropriate gendered data were identified to be the main causes for the gendered impact of COVID-19. An analysis of the COVID-19 response of three countries was conducted: New Zealand, Vietnam, and Taiwan. The three countries’ cases suggested that women leadership may be advantageous in times of crisis. A variety of reports centering on a gender-focused recovery were studied. The prevalent notion is that the COVID-19 recovery must have a gendered lens, and governments must ensure equal representation in both policy development and purpose. To rectify the gendered impact of COVID, it is necessary to adopt policies that fully account for women.