How COVID-19 disproportionately affects women

Social and economic setbacks associated with the pandemic have left women, particularly BIPOC and those with disabilities, more vulnerable to economic disparities due to pre-existing gaps in gender equality. CREDIT: PEXELS

ALYSSA MARKS

Global gender equality has seen significant regressive consequences due to COVID-19. This is because the social and economic setbacks associated with the pandemic have left women more vulnerable to economic disparities due to pre-existing gaps in gender equality.

While many people have suffered from job loss and economic instability, a 2020 McKinsey Global Institute study has shown that women’s loss of employment due to the pandemic is 1.8 times higher than the job loss of men.

Furthermore, industries that are supposedly dominated by women (retail, education, childcare) are experiencing increased job loss compared to male dominated industries, accounting for 54 per cent of COVID-related job losses, despite only making up 39 per cent of the global workforce.

Another factor that influences the risk of job loss for women during the pandemic is the burden of increased unpaid labour. As women conduct 75 per cent of global unpaid labour, the increase in demand for household duties like cleaning and food preparation, as well as elderly and childcare due to the pandemic, has largely been left to them.

These factors have especially impacted women from marginalized communities throughout Canada, from increased unemployment, to increased hate crimes, and higher chances of contracting COVID-19.

The Canadian Women’s Foundation released a national survey in August 2020 that outlined the concerns of Canadians about the pandemic’s negative impact on the welfare of women.

The poll found that a vast majority of Canadians are concerned about women facing higher rates of domestic violence during COVID-19, the vulnerability of women in the service sector, and higher risks of job loss. Canadians would support a government-mandated recovery plan that aims to address the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on women.

In 2020, Ontario policing facilities, women’s groups, and domestic violence supports experienced an increase in demand for intake from the previous year. Women, girls, trans, and non-binary folks face the risk of increased domestic violence incidents, especially with increased COVID-19 restrictions and stay-at-home orders. It is also worth mentioning that increased restrictions create obstacles for accessing support services like shelters and other community-based organizations.

Canada’s history with colonialism indicates that many Indigenous communities face barriers in accessing health and safety resources.

CTV reported in January 2021 that COVID-19 rates among First Nations peoples living on reserves is 40 per cent higher than the national average. Some of the contributing factors include lack of infrastructure, boil water advisories, overcrowding in homes, limited access to adequate healthcare, food insecurity, and high rates of chronic diseases.

According to the Government of Canada, Indigenous women and girls also encounter higher rates of domestic and gendered violence than non-Indigenous women. COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns are expected to increase these rates.

Another factor to consider is anti-Indigenous racism in the healthcare system. The pandemic has exposed these existing divisions within the healthcare system and ongoing human rights violations. According to a 2015 Wellesley Institute report, Indigenous communities have uneven access to resources in healthcare, and experience racist treatment by healthcare providers, which are critical obstacles for accessing needed healthcare support. This reality is expected to be exacerbated during the pandemic.

The Government of Canada is closely working with Indigenous partners and leaders from various provinces and territories to co-develop effective legislation that addresses Indigenous accessibility to quality healthcare services in Canada. Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller, the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Carolyn Bennett, the Minister of Health Patty Hajdu, and the Minister of Northern Affairs Daniel Vandal proposed the initiation of the co-development legislation formulation in 2020.

These efforts include funding Indigenous communities to hire medical staff, buy personal protective equipment, and update existing healthcare facilities to better respond to the pandemic. There will also be funding for providing home-care services for elderly and vulnerable members.

The Canadian Women’s Foundation reports that Canadian women workers who identify as people of colour have experienced an increase in unemployment, which has continued to grow since COVID-19. These rates are higher than that of non-racialized women. A 2020 report by the Daily Bread Food Bank in Toronto indicates that racialized women also overrepresent hazardous employment sectors, as well as the lowest paid, least stable, and most unrecognized areas of work. The impact of the pandemic only exacerbates these inequalities.

According to a Reuters report, South Asian Canadian women had among the highest rates of unemployment in Canada at a staggering 20.4 per cent during July 2020. On a broader scale, since the beginning of the pandemic Asian communities in Canada have been experiencing increased hate crimes, acts of racism, and for small business owners, fewer customers.

One reason lies in the spread of racist and misinformed campaigns related to the fact that the virus was first discovered in China.

Statistics Canada reported that Asian communities in 2020 were more likely to experience perceived racial or ethnic harassment than any other group in Canada. There has been pressure on the federal government to make improvements to strengthen its 2019-2022 anti-racism strategy to further protect and prevent Asian Canadians against attacks.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that those living with disabilities are more likely to contract COVID-19. This is partly due to difficulties in attaining hygienic products, the challenges associated with residing in dependent living facilities, and receiving other supports and care where there have been large outbreaks of the virus. There are also concerns with being more vulnerable to COVID-19 due to pre-existing health conditions, especially those with immune and respiratory health conditions.

The Government of Canada reports that Canadian women living with disabilities are almost twice as likely as women living without disabilities to have been

CANADIAN CONTEXT FIRST NATIONS, METIS, AND INUIT WOMEN RACIALIZED WOMEN

ASIAN COMMUNITIES

sexually assaulted. The increased risk of gender-based violence and lack of accessible support for women and girls with disabilities were prevalent before COVID-19. The pandemic worsens these existing inequalities. As many services and supports have limited their operations, including home care and personal support services, it is likely that this has negatively impacted women living with disabilities, reports the DisAbled Women’s Network of Canada.

Below is a list of some steps you can take to mitigate negative impacts of COVID-19 on women: • Support women-owned and women-led local businesses. • Contact your local representative and voice your concerns about COVID-19’s impact on women. • Donate to local organizations that are designed to help women in need (i.e.

Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis, CFUW Guelph).

gwwomenincrisis.org  519-836-1110 adminsac@gwwomenincrisis.org

519-836-5710 1-800-265-7233

 You can access the shelter by calling the 24-hour Crisis

Line at 519-836-5710 or, for long-distance, 1-800-2657233 for immediate and confidential support. gwwomenincrisis. org/ get-help/mariannes-place/

gwwomenincrisis.org/ anti-human-trafficking -program/ 519-836-1110 ext. 245 adminsac@gwwomenincrisis.org

gwwomenincrisis.org/ get-help/rwsp/ 519-843-6834

sacha.ca/ 905-525-4573