Did Gender Inequality Become Worse Because Of Covid?

We’ve been dealing with Covid and the global pandemic since 2020. For over two years, we’ve quarantined, worn masks, received vaccines, and dealt with the ongoing anxiety, stress, and uncertainty each and every day.

The world changed completely. Supply and demand changed drastically. Items were flying off the shelves in stores as people were trying to stock up for any shutdowns. Prices increased in order for the world to try to keep up. The death toll was on the rise. Loved ones were sick and dying. Furloughs and layoffs were happening left and right. The unemployment rate was at the highest it’s been in years.

Two years later, we’re still seeing some long-term effects of Covid-19. The global pandemic seemed to have a larger impact on women compared to men. Let’s find out. Did gender inequality become worse because of Covid?

The Impact of Covid on Gender Inequality

The short answer is yes. Gender inequality did in fact become worse due to Covid. Research that was conducted by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, as well as the McKinsey Global Institute’s (MGI’s) Power of Parity, both showed that women experienced a greater overall negative social and economic impact compared to men.

Here are some of the ways that Covid-19 impacted women more than men.

Careers

One of the greatest areas of notice, when it came to comparing Covid’s impact on women versus men, was in jobs and livelihoods. 26% of women reported losing work during Covid compared to 20% of men. MGI estimated that women experienced job loss rates 1.8 times higher than men all over the globe. Women were estimated at a 5.7% job loss rate with men sitting at 3.1%.

The research also showed that women’s jobs were 19% more at risk compared to men’s. Many women were working in careers or roles that were negatively affected by Covid-19, which led to more furloughs and layoffs in certain industries.

Those that were in industries that weren’t heavily impacted were still putting themselves at a higher risk each and every day like nurses who are predominantly women.

Support and Safety

Many women and girls were left without the proper support they needed to feel supported and safe.

More women and girls were likely to drop out of school compared to men and boys during Covid-19. This was due to unwanted pregnancies and health risks.

Many mothers or those expecting didn’t feel safe enough with the world’s status during the pandemic, so they opted to deliver their babies in their own homes. The pandemic increased the number of female deaths.

Home Life

Covid-19 also had a huge impact on home life. Schools and daycares were shut down. This meant that many women were put in the position to take on the full responsibilities of their homes, children, and their careers each and every day. For most, that meant balancing it all working from their home office and taking calls and video calls with screaming children playing in the background or sitting on their laps.

Another area to consider is the cases of domestic violence. The quarantines and isolation made abusers closer to their victims. Many women were forced to live with their abusers day in and out with no break during the day. This only brought on more domestic abuse and increased the number of attacks.

Next Steps

Covid-19 and the global pandemic may be over, but there are some long-term effects that people all over the world are still dealing with.

If you’re struggling with the after-effects of COVID-19, you’re not alone.

Don’t hesitate in reaching out for the help you need and deserve. You don’t have to fight this battle alone. There are people that are willing and able to help you. You just have to ask.

The world post-Covid hasn’t been an easy road, but we’ll help get you on the right path again physically, mentally, and emotionally. Reach out to us today to set up a consultation.