The unique aspect of the COVID-19 recession is the economic and social impact on the female workforce. During this pandemic, women’s jobs are 19% more vulnerable than men’s, and the gender poverty gap is anticipated to worsen well into 2030. The global GDP growth would decline by $1 trillion by 2030 if women’s unemployment continuously falls as compared to men in each sector. The proportion of women in the corporate world has plummeted significantly.
There Has Been A Disproportionate Impact On Women For The Following Reasons
Firstly, the social mindsets of people and customary cultural convictions of women’s roles serve as the biggest hindrance. Second, women face additional mobility restrictions. Although mobile phones are considered a risk to a woman’s prestige before marriage, using the phone after marriage is regarded as a cessation of caregiving responsibilities. Third, digital illiteracy and unfamiliarity with digital platforms had averted female entrepreneurs from moving to online marketplaces.
For instance, Jhuri-makers (bamboo craftswomen) in West Bengal were reluctant to switch to online platforms due to meagre knowledge of social media and digital marketing channels, coupled with high data costs.
Women Self-Help Group (SHG) members across states like Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Gujarat shared that although women in their communities use phones for personal use, they were unable to conduct financial transactions online. They hence could not use them for business purposes.
In India, there is a 50% gender divide between male and female internet users. The digital divide has put millions of poor, particularly rural women, at the back of the vaccination queue. Also, they are unable to avail the benefits of government-aided programs such as cash support for domestic workers in April 2021. Moreover, in rural households, girls face increased domestic duties inducing their inability to access online education either because of inadequate access to the internet and gadgets or because of a male child’s preference for education in the family.
There is a sudden upsurge in domestic work. With children at home because of the closure of schools, greater care needs of elderly and ailing family members, demands for care work in COVID-19 have intensified exponentially. As a result, approximately women spent 5 hours per day on unpaid household chores.
On A Positive Note, Efforts Have Been Made To Digitize Rural Areas
A group of women entrepreneurs from Haryana was able to list their bangle-making business on Facebook, helping them expand their market considerably, offset the losses from COVID-19, and elevate their income by nearly 60% during the festive season.
In Telangana, the UNDP evolved a virtual platform to school artisans in design and financial literacy and connected them to markets for their products. As a result, 2,000 handloom weavers and artisans received training and expanded their business exponentially. These are just two examples of how bridging the digital divide can significantly improve the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable women.
Offering substantial flexibility to caregivers, reduced and flexible schedules, more sabbaticals, and new opportunities to hone skills and learn. Policies like ‘share the care’ empower all parents to benefit from paid leave irrespective of their gender or marital status. These are some of the measures that should be taken into consideration to combat this stumbling block.