COVID-19, the pandemic that has snatched our two most precious years. It has affected almost every industry in our global society. Even the people living in different corners of the world can feel these effects. The consequences of this catastrophe are never based on gender, but the economic plight influenced the women harder.
In comparison to men, women are at risk both socially and economically. Even being more talented and skilled, the repercussions of the economic impact of COVID-19 have minded women. Many of the small business which is handled by women have halt due to COVID-19 lockdown. Around 25 percent of women have lost their piece of work. While everyone is looking for their safety, women are saying that work comes first because it brings food to their table.
Due to the fewer earnings and savings, the economic crisis frail the women. Also, women have less access to social protection. These women are the faces behind the headlines of this pervasive situation. So, let us discuss the reasons and impact of COVID-19 on professional women.
Industry:
The industries like food service, retail, and entertainment need major support from women. Also, 510 million women from all around the world work in these sectors. But due to COVID-19, these sectors have been badly influenced. This has not just impacted the lives of industry owners, but women working there have lost their jobs. Many women are worried about their daily living due to failure in healthy finance. The workers have lost 50 percent of their income due to this difficult situation.
With some of these sectors which include informal employment, the COVID-19 has created a drastic effect. Low pays, poor working conditions, and lack of social protection are subjected to workers. Around 55 percent of women are informally employed. For them, the conditions have been dire.
Business:
This pandemic has grabbed the simple and comfortable living of people from them. The women who tend to hold their small businesses strongly are losing their jobs. The measures taken by the government to stop the spread of the virus have led to women’s unemployment. The lives of women have changed completely. They are not living a healthy life. Earlier, women were not given the opportunities to showcase their talent, and now, this virus threatens their small progress.
By following the government rules like stay-at-home orders, quarantine, and social distancing, the small businesses have taken a dreadful hit. Women’s income took a major bounce back and impacted their economic balance.
Photo by Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels
Inequality at home:
The lockdown measures keep people at home, closes everything which led to the burden to work on women. For working mothers, daughters, and sisters responsibilities have increased. Also, balancing household chores with full-time employment can really be laborious. Women also have to take care of their elderly family members.
COVID-19 has not just impacted professional women but many girls due to poverty have to leave their school. This has a snowball effect on the lives of women and girls for years to come. The Dearth of education and knowledge increases discrimination in society. This will also lead to gender-based violence. These sequels will not disappear till the pandemic becomes less reductive. Many women will experience long-term setbacks in their profession.
Conclusion:
We all have to support women in this hard time. Government should take steps to mitigate the negative economic impacts of COVID-19 on women. They should support women by providing income support to informal women workers. they should also provide specific grants and stimulus funding to the women who are leading the business. Last but not least, more efforts are also needed to engage citizens and workers in public campaigns that promote equitable distribution of care and domestic work between men and women.
