WOMEN AT THE EPICENTER OF COVID-19

With 3 million cases and 300,000 deaths touching every part of the world, the COVID-19 crisis continues to escalate, damaging health and economic well-being globally. While no one is untouched by the effects of the crisis, women stand at its epicenter on the frontlines of this global health emergency, as noted in a recent OECD report.

In occupations most affected by the crisis, women account for over 70% of the health care workforce, 1/2 of all doctors and 95% of the long-term care workforce globally, a majority of pharmacists, pharmacy aides and technicians, and more than 2/3 of grocery store workers and staff at the counter at fast food eateries. In fact, one in three jobs held by women during this health crisis has been designated as essential in the U.S., according to a New York Times analysis.

Unfortunately, much of this work has long been underpaid and undervalued. Among home health and personal care aides, pay comes close to minimum wage. Simultaneously, women are also shouldering more of a burden at home, given school and childcare closures throughout most countries. Industries suffering huge job losses due to the virus, such as the service sector, domestic work, and childcare, are disproportionately staffed by women. In the U.S. for instance, 70% of restaurant workers and 93% of domestic workers are women, so they form a large segment of the unemployed.

           “Women are such pivotal cogs in all economies globally and always have been,” said President of the Global Summit of Women Irene Natividad. “The current crisis has thrown a spotlight on the value of what is often seen as women’s work. We salute all the work done by these women in all parts of the world, but we also want this attention to translate into policy changes that improve women’s work and family lives.” Globewomen is part of the W20 currently drafting a document to be presented to G20 leaders enumerating policies that address gender equity in the post-pandemic world.