POST-PANDEMIC BRAVE NEW WORLD

A flipside to the fact that women are enduring the worst of the crisis at the moment and women’s roles in the workplace are being more affected than men by COVID-19 is the possibility that the crisis will alter gender norms in a way that could lead to a more equitable workplace and society.

According to new research shared by the U.S. National Bureau of Economic Research, the COVID-19 crisis might generate long-lasting change. In the same way that World War II shifted gender roles by putting more women in the workforce, COVID-19 is spurring a surge of male caregivers since women currently make up the majority of “essential” jobs. This is in contrast to previous recessions, which affected men’s employment more severely than women’s employment.

“There are opposing forces which may ultimately promote gender equality in the labor market,” the researchers write. “First, businesses are rapidly adopting flexible work arrangements, which are likely to persist. Second, there are also many fathers who now have to take primary responsibility for childcare, which may erode social norms that currently lead to a lopsided distribution of labor in housework and child care.”

In an OECD policy brief on “Women at the Core of the Fight Against Covid-19 Crisis,” recommendations center on governments operating a well-functioning system of gender mainstreaming in emergency policies in the short-term but with an eye towards long-term commitments.

“Women are risking their lives, yet their pay, status, social recognition and visibility are limited,” said OECD Chief of Staff and Sherpa to the G-20 Gabriela Ramos. “Essentially, we face two options as we respond to this crisis: we can either let these disproportionate impacts exacerbate existing inequalities, or we can make sure to embed a strong gender lens in response and recovery efforts to emerge stronger – and our choice is obvious. The post Covid-19 world will never be the same, and it is up to all of us to ensure that women fare better.”

(Sources: Forbes, “Women at the frontlines of Covid-19 might be starting the gender role reversal of the century,” April 17, 2020; National Bureau of Economic Research, “The Impact of Covid-19 on Gender Equality, April 2020)