Women were already at a disadvantage in the race for equality, but the pandemic has thrown them another trip. The coronavirus crisis has only increased the gender gap in different areas. “The starting situation was not the same and in a context of crisis inequalities are accentuated,” says Sara Moreno, a sociologist at the UAB. The data prove it. More infections, more unemployment, increased difficulty in reconciling work and family life, and worse mental health have suffered them, according to the study The gender impact of covid-19 in data, from the Gender Equality Observatory (OIG) of the Institut Català de les Dones. A work that will continue to take a long-term x-ray of the inequalities that are still in force due to gender.
This March 8, International Working Women’s Day, the situation of women is worse. With regard to health, women have suffered from covid-19 in 54.4%, compared to 45.6% of men. “This is due to the fact that women do jobs where they are more exposed to covid, such as health, domestic, care for the elderly or in supermarkets,” says Anna Pujol, family doctor and member of the Catalan Society of Family Medicine i Community.
In addition, women have been afflicted with other ailments. In primary care, a worsening of the emotional state has been detected, due to exposure to the virus, the loss of work or the suffering caused by grief that could not be done. According to data from a May 2020 OIG survey, women’s sleep quality was worse or much worse than before the pandemic in 40.13% of cases, and 30.3% in the case of women. mens. In addition, 65.4% of people who reported recurring anxiety during confinement were women. Pujol adds that now the “ravages of all this year” are reaching primary care and that there are still people who do not go to the doctor out of fear.
The estimated unemployment of women grows by 37% compared to 28% of men
Mireia Forner, a clinical psychologist at Hospital Vall d’Hebron, also confirms that the pandemic has affected the mental health of women the most. They are suffering more sleep disturbances, anxious and depressive symptoms or post-traumatic stress, due to the burden that the coronavirus has placed on them. Family and work overload, less support at the social level, decrease in income due to being in ERTE or loss of employment are some of the reasons. The impact is greater in women caring for children with chronic illnesses or disabilities or in pregnant women.
Both Forner and Pujol point out that cases of sexist violence have also increased. “Many times when the attacks come they have already been serious,” says Pujol. Calls to 900 900 120, the permanent assistance number for women in situations of sexist violence, have grown by 70%. Even so, complaints to the Mossos d’Esquadra fell in the first and second quarters of 2020 by 5% and 10%, something that the Observatory report attributes to confinement. In contrast, in the third quarter they rose 2%.
Less work and income
Childcare and housework have fallen more heavily on women, especially when schools closed. They have been burdened with housework and caring for minors and elders or dependents, which has aggravated the difficulties to reconcile. According to the OIG survey, women do housework 20% more than men.
The sociologist Moreno remarks that among the group that has been able to telework, it has also been seen how women had to combine it with more dedication to the home and to their children. She adds that this has meant more stress, anguish and a feeling of not getting everything done for them. In general, men have been able to take up teleworking with less interference. Mercè Caso, dean judge of Barcelona, says that this has also been noticed in her workplace. The magistrates have also shown more concern and workload to take care of the family and their home. The reinforcement plans that have been designed in the administration of justice “are self-reinforcing and may have a short validity,” he explains. If this is prolonged “it will cause a gender divide” because it will be more difficult for women to maintain that rhythm.
They take on 20% more housework, according to a study
Women have lost their jobs more. Its unemployment rate grew 4 points in 2020 compared to the previous year, to 15%, and is still above the male rate (12.9%), according to the report. Women and work, prepared by the Labor Observatory and Productive Model of the Department of Labor. Unemployment estimated by the EPA (Labor Force Survey) shows a more pronounced interannual increase among women (+ 37.1%) than among men (+ 28%). In the second quarter of 2020, 14,000 jobs for scientific and intellectual professional women were lost, compared to 2,300 for men in the same category. A particularly hit group is that of hotel room maids. Vania Arana, spokesperson for the kellys of Barcelona, maintains that some 70,000 have been left with nothing because they were employed through subcontracting. Most of those who were on staff are still in ERTE a year later.
Mercè Caso adds that if the ERTE are liquidated, it will be seen “how unemployment hits women more”. The great impact of the layoffs has not yet arrived, but “surely women will be harmed the most,” he points out. The pay gap is another problem. A UGT report in Catalonia indicates that women under 25 years of age receive a salary 27% lower than men of the same age, a percentage that rises to 29% in women over 55 years of age.
In favor of more women in the Fire Department
Firemen of the Generalitat has reactivated the campaign “Fem equip. Suma-t’hi ”, to make visible, normalize and increase the presence of women in the group of firefighters, where they only represent 2.04% of these professionals. A percentage that rises slightly in the voluntary fire brigade groups where it is above 6%. Coinciding with Women’s Day, the campaign that is part of the Generalitat’s gender equality plan is reactivated. The campaign is made up of posters and a video with which it is intended to convey that there is room for both men and women under “equal conditions as persons.” The posters will be hung in the Department of the Interior and in all the fire stations of the Generalitat. In addition, firefighters and firefighters will conduct online chats with children from three primary schools.
–
