The pandemic has hit women workers hard. Find out how in this article.
After dramatic growth in women’s labour force participation in the latter half of the 20th century, the pandemic has hit women workers hard. An analysis published in February of U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows women’s labour force participation having fallen to its lowest since 1988, with over 2.3 million women having left the labour force since the pandemic started and disproportionate impacts on women of colour.
A quick internet search delivers plentiful data on how the virus’ affects women’s mental health, women’s rights and women’s careers. Consider these stats:
Low-income women, especially women of colour, discovered that despite their minimum wage salaries they are essential workers. Consequently, the pandemic has meant continuing to work outside of their homes with the attendant risks to their health and that of their family members. This is especially egregious given that this disease is killing Black and brown people at a highly disproportionate rate. Women were more likely than men to lose their jobs during the pandemic and were hardest hit by the closure of schools and day-care centres because they do substantially more caregiving in their homes. Experts have raised concerns that decades of progress that women have made in the workforce has been stalled or even reversed during the pandemic.
It’s always been easy to look at history as something other people make. This Women’s History Month, that’s no longer possible. Let’s use this time to celebrate women’s achievements in all their many forms. And maybe most importantly, celebrate you.
https://www.writergirl.com/womens-history-month-2021-how-covid-19-has-affected-womens-equality/
https://www.rutgers.edu/news/rutgers-marks-womens-history-month