Shameela Yoosuf Ali
♥ Story 01
It is at 3 am. Reem’s fingers busy typing the report on her laptop. The deadline is tomorrow. A mother’s schedule is unpredictable. Her 6 months old baby and the household work keep her busy during the day. At night, she has to focus on her deadlines. It is a continuous struggle, and during the pandemic, her workload doubled. Not everyone could afford childcare.
♥ Story 02
Subbu is tired. She is a homemaker. She used to enjoy her own time gardening and stitching while her husband is away for work. Usually, until 3 pm, her children are at school. Now, with the pandemic, everything changed. Currently, her husband is working from home. Children are learning online. She does not have any time left for her. She is always busy cooking, making tea, cleaning or coxing children to do the homework.
♥ Story 03
Mona worked as a receptionist in a nearby hotel.
Her meagre salary was the only source of income for her ailing mother and her two children. Mona’s husband deserted her two years back. Her only hope was her job in the hotel. Compared to the male staff there, her salary was low. But she did not have an option. But now, the hotel has downscaled its staff, and she was sent home empty-handed. Mona stares at her bleak future, and she does not know where to find another job during the pandemic.
The world is never going to be the same not only for Reem, Subbu and Mona but also for many other women in Europe, Africa and Asia.
Despite the unwavering strength within us, we, women, are still challenged with sex-based discrimination. The pandemic has intensified existing inequalities between women and men in almost all areas of life across the globe.
Hard-won triumphs in female empowerment of the past have been wiped out. The disparities expanded.
The pandemic has opened up an abyss between the rich and poor.
It has deepened the inequalities between men and women. Women are facing more significant financial and social impact than men, according to studies. This might be because there have been fewer opportunities for women to work, socialise and seek education.
” The pandemic has hurt people living in poverty far harder than the rich and has had particularly severe impacts on women, Black people, Afro-descendants, Indigenous Peoples, and historically marginalised and oppressed communities around the world. Women, and to a higher extent, racialised woman, are more at risk of losing their jobs because of the coronavirus than men.”
A gender-responsive employment recovery: Building back fairer- A report by the International Labour Organisation ( 2020).
The extreme economic and racial disparity has existed in our world for far too long. This pandemic mirrors which groups are privileged and which are disadvantaged. This pandemic’s heaviest price is borne by the people of colour, ethnic minorities, marginalised societies, and women both across and within countries.
“As women take on greater care demands at home, their jobs will also be disproportionately affected by cuts and layoffs. Such impacts risk rolling back the already fragile gains made in female labour force participation, limiting women’s ability to support themselves and their families, especially for female-headed households. In many countries, the first round of layoffs has been particularly acute in the services sector, including retail, hospitality and tourism, where women are overrepresented.”
A gender-responsive employment recovery: Building back fairer- A report by the International Labour Organisation ( 2020).
According to studies, before COVID-19 struck, women were doing three times as much unpaid care and domestic work as men. And now the ‘unpaid work’ has increased in manifolds.
Workplace and school closures have put extra strain and burden on women and girls. Women are expected to do daily household work in many cultures. Remote working and learning have further increased the pressure.
It is estimated that one in three women would experience violence during their lifetimes, under normal circumstances.
Violence against women and girls is increasing globally as the COVID-19 pandemic escalates. A large number of women are said to be trapped in their homes with their abusers because of the restrictions to move and interact. Abuse can be physical, verbal and sexual, and it occurs both in the developed and developing world.
Congested homes and limited access to support are aggravating the domestic violence within the communities.
What measures can be taken to reduce the gender gap?
Every step counts, and each of us can do something to contribute towards lifting off the burden from women’s shoulders.
♥ Place women as leaders and let them make decisions.
Incorporating women’s representation in decision making when policymaking, planning, and implementation processes would bring incredible results. Women alone understand the exclusive issues and sensitivities they undergo. It is essential to give special focus to marginalised and intersectional women’s representation. The world needs women in every unit where decisions are being made.
♥ Alternative Imagination of our Economy
Reimagination of the economy and recognising the unpaid work would be incredible. ‘Unpaid care work’ typically refers to everyday chores, like cooking, washing, cleaning, shopping for their own household, care-taking children, elderly, sick, and the disabled. Often in many marginalised clusters, including rural women and homemakers, the labour is disregarded by society. They are often deprived of economic independence. By assigning ‘Unpaid labour’ the expected value financially and ethically, we could reimagine more independent women and a sustainable economy.
♥ A system that works for all
This world is not only men’s. We need a system that works for everyone. The system should support the vulnerable, not crushing them further.
Gender equality benefits women and men and the economy and society as a whole.
♥ Building supportive Networks
Building effective networks enable women to contribute more and have a lasting impact.
Networking is about forming close connections with women who have passed the hurdles and achieved the goals. Such women inspire and force you to get out of your comfort zone and broaden your horizons. Supporting women’s ideas and providing platforms for them to experiment contributes to flourishing new enterprises and self-confidence. The supportive networks should be inclusive and respect the diversity to explore unique perspectives. Supporting and investing in women’s ideas will help to close the expanding gender gap.
A supportive network that delivers a platform to new ideas offers mentoring opportunities, promotes women-led initiatives, and connects and inspires women to benefit women and entire generations.
We are at a pivotal moment in history. The unfolding world of post-pandemic- Is it a portal for the future for hope and equality or a door to the cave of despair and inequality?
The decision is in our hands.
Change starts with a single person’s courageous step.
