The Covid-19 Effect
Poverty and COVID-19 have acted as building blocks off each other, as one’s number increases, so does the other. The pandemic is going to have a devastating effect on the value of a dollar for generations to come. This pandemic has had a great effect on socioeconomics around the world. COVID-19 has only strengthened the gender pay gap in many areas of the world and unfortunately has resulted in women doing more unpaid work than prior to the pandemic.
Women’s Vulnerability
I found a truly great analyses that dives into the inequality that people around the world are experiencing because of COVID, specifically Bangladeshi women. Author Mou Rani Sarker discusses how crisis impacts such as this pandemic are never gender neutral and often result in loss of jobs and unpaid work for women. She exploits women’s vulnerability and lack of protection in todays weakened labor market.
No one should ever have to perform unpaid work, especially women working in extremely harsh conditions in extremely hot climates.
With the gender pay gap only widening in many parts of the world, we must rush to find a solution to protect these women and their labor rights. Mou Rani Sarker offers a great viewpoint where she outlines an idea to create a gender inclusive policy. This policy will hold women as the center focus point.
Covid Around the World
Country wide lockdowns in Bangladesh and other COVID-19 restrictions have made it increasingly difficult for many industries in Bangladesh to keep their operations at full capacity. Some of these industries include textile work, garment work, and domestic workers. As unfair as it may seem, many women have experienced an increased workload without an increase in pay. As Mou Rani Sarker wrote, “According to the BRAC survey (2020), about 55% of surveyed women faced additional domestic work stress and 58% reported increased unpaid care work. School closure and family members returning home, home quarantine, and so on further exacerbate unpaid workloads.” (Rani Sarker, 2021).
In other words, the pandemic resulted in almost all aspects of life changing, especially children having to learn from remote classrooms. This resulted in many families having no source of childcare of supervision during the days of the week. This ultimately puts the women in Bangladesh in an unsolvable situation because they already have less time on their hands due to the increased workload. 36 million students in Bangladesh were forced to return home in March of 2020, only increasing the amount of stress already placed on these women.
Unfairness & Inequality
The unfair labor treatment that women have experienced for generations is shameful and I believe it is our societies duty to find a way to protect these women from this pandemic. There are two genders on earth for a reason meaning that both play 50/50 parts in the functioning of society. Some may argue women are more crucial to society, being the matriarchs of families. Policies must be put in place that empower these women and give them and their families a sense of support. As Mou Rani Sarker wrote, “Policies and programs should aim to influence the attitude of men in the family toward women and help in unpaid care and domestic work to reduce the burden on women, make it more equitable. Moreover, changing the women’s perception of themselves can play an important role to uplift their self-esteem and to improve their image in the family and society at large.” (Rani Sarker, 2021)
In other words, it is not only fair, but it is more than necessary that women, especially in smaller areas of the world such as Bangladesh get the same amount of fiscal support as men do. As a result of these gender policies being enacted women will experience new levels of confidence and a sense belief in themselves and their own abilities. This can lead to an overall happier life and more positive outlook towards family and society.
Society will benefit for generations to come when women around the world are supported and have a way to voice their opinions.
Reflection:
Something must be done to help these families under these extremely stressful situations. It’s simply unfair when someone’s workload is increased but their pay is decreased, and it is simply inhumane for someone to work unpaid hours. It’s up to policy makers and governmental leaders to find a way to take the burden off these families stuck in this cycle of poverty.
Citation :
Sarker, M. R. (2021). Labor market and unpaid works implications of COVID‐19 for Bangladeshi women. Gender, Work, and Organization, 28(S2), 597–604.
