Image source: blog.vantagecircle.com
BY: EMMA LEV AND PHOENIX MINTUS, SUMMER 2021 COLLABORATORS AT POWER IN PLACE
The pandemic has caused disruption for families all over the world. It left people out of work, and as a result, many people, and those supporting others, struggled financially. One aspect of this disruption that should be more widely known is its increased impact on women in the workforce.
Data recorded in February 2021 found that the female labor force in the United States was now 3.1% smaller than February 2020, in comparison to the male labor force becoming 2.2% smaller, a gap between the two of 493,000 people leaving the workforce since the beginning of the pandemic. Why did this disparity occur?
A recent study from the US Bureau of Labor suggests that unlike past recessions and disruptions to the workforce, women have been impacted more than men by the coronavirus pandemic. More women than men initially lost their jobs because female-dominated industries such as restaurants and other retail businesses, healthcare, childcare, and education were hit the hardest in the shutdowns initiated by many different states. Prior to the pandemic, progress was slow but steady for women joining the workforce, participation standing at 58%, though they were still typically underrepresented. Additionally, male-dominated industries like manufacturing were hit harder during recessions than female-dominated areas. Now progress has shifted backwards for working women, and certain industries being hard-hit is far from the only reason.
Data also suggests that women fear contracting the coronavirus more than men, which is why there is a greater chance they choose to work from home or not return to the workforce compared to men. And this fear may be justified: Women were 78 percent of workers in all healthcare jobs in 2019, meaning at least 17 million people are more likely to be exposed to COVID-19.4 In 2020, one in four women, compared to one in five men, considered leaving the workforce or downshifting their careers.5 Once a woman chooses to leave work, she is more likely to not return, as well: While there was a notable increase in men and women retiring in early 2021 compared to 2020, implying the pandemic encouraged many people to retire, there is a gender gap evident here as well.
Disruptions to working women’s lives have not just been caused by losing or quitting their jobs. The pandemic has also forced daycares and schools to close, often leading to at least one parent staying home for childcare purposes. More often than not, women take on this role. The US Bureau of Labor estimated 15 million single mothers were the most affected, and their possibilities are more scarce than other demographics for continuing to work or receiving childcare in another way. Brookings surveyed men and women in May and June 2020 that lost their jobs during the pandemic. One in four women cited the cause as a lack of childcare, twice as many as men. For those that stayed in the workforce, they often had to cut back on hours to balance the increased effort at home. If they could still access needed childcare, the cost proves to be an additional obstacle: A study conducted in 2018 shows the “average childcare costs in every state exceed the federal definition of affordability - 7% of annual household income,” so a caretaker, usually the mother, may have to stay home if they do not have the money to spare.
For women that are able to stay within the workforce, many experience mental difficulties with their new working conditions. Burnout, exhaustion, and increased pressure are more common feelings for women than for men, reported by the 2020 Women in the Workplace study. But women with flexible hours and remote jobs may still have an easier time than other demographics. Those who have in-person or low-income jobs or are single mothers have extra concerns due to covid exposure or childcare. Additionally, from a 2018 American Community Survey, almost half of all working women had low-income jobs, and larger percentages of those people were Black (54%) or Hispanic (64%) compared to white (40%). These groups are some of the hardest-hit by the financial and mental challenges of being a woman with a job during a pandemic.
So as businesses reopen and the American economy starts to recover, what can they do to help working women get back on their feet?
Businesses should offer equal parenting leave for men and women to encourage men to take on a bigger role in childcare. This will help ease pressure on working mothers and provide a stable environment for children at home. Another method of solving the childcare issue is that businesses can offer on-site childcare, not only in white-collared jobs but other industries as well. There is an evident gender gap in higher-paying jobs, so employers should consider hiring more women in these roles to close the gap.
A big issue throughout the pandemic was that women faced many issues impacting their mental health, such as feelings of burnout and exhaustion. To help their employees, businesses can offer more flexible hours and flexible workspaces, and monitor their employee’s mental health to ensure the working environment is positive and healthy. Jobs may be slowly returning to their pre-pandemic methods, but learning from that time and implementing workplace changes will cause many long-term benefits and help women feel like they belong in the workforce.
References:
[1] Bateman, Nicole, and Martha Ross. “Why Has COVID-19 Been Especially Harmful for Working Women?” Brookings, Brookings, 6 Jan. 2021, www.brookings.edu/essay/why-has-covid-19-been-especially-harmful-for-working-women.
[2] Hammer, Bonnie. “Women Have Lost a Disproportionate Number of Jobs Due to COVID-19.” Time, Time, 25 Jan. 2021, https://time.com/5932620/women-covid-19-jobs/.
[3] Karageorge, Eleni X. “COVID-19 Recession Is Tougher on Women: Monthly Labor Review.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Sept. 2020, www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2020/beyond-bls/covid-19-recession-is-tougher-on-women.htm.
[4] Rothwell, Jonathan, and Lydia Saad. “How Have U.S. Working Women Fared During the Pandemic?” Gallup, Gallup, 8 Mar. 2021, https://news.gallup.com/poll/330533/working-women-fared-during-pandemic.aspx.
[5] “Seven Charts That Show COVID-19's Impact on Women's Employment.” McKinsey & Company, McKinsey & Company, 20 Apr. 2021, www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/seven-charts-that-show-covid-19s-impact-on-womens-employment.
Emma Lev is a rising sophomore at the University of Texas at Austin, majoring in English with a certificate in Creative Writing. She enjoys writing short stories, reading books, and drawing in her free time, but her career aspirations lie in editing. She is passionate about feminism, social issues and justice, and journalism.
Phoenix Mintus is an incoming sophomore student at Denison University. He is majoring in Communications and Public Affairs. He is passionate about LGBTQ+ rights and women’s rights. He enjoys reading, writing, and learning new things everyday. On campus, he plans to volunteer and join the student newspaper.