Women Leaving the Workplace Due to The Pandemic
- Isabella Gilchrist
- Nov 10, 2021
- 3 min read
Women in the workforce have always faced some type of difficulty. Whether that be the gender pay gap, occupational sexism, or longstanding stereotypes, women are often viewed as inferior and behind in professional settings. Now, with the prevailing pandemic, women face a new problem. Since the initial U.S lockdown in March 2020, millions of people have left the workforce, the vast majority being women. According to the Center For American Progress, four times as many women as men dropped out of the workforce in September alone. And although layoffs and unemployment have ravaged the country during COVID, the primary reason for women leaving the workforce is likely rooted in gender roles and how this pandemic has exacerbated them.
What are some traditional gender roles? What usually comes to mind is a woman staying at home to cook, clean and take care of her children while her husband goes to work. These norms, of course, are extremely old fashioned and have evolved since the early 1900s. Back then, women were portrayed in a negative light with the notion that they had to fulfill those common stereotypes to be a “perfect wife.” Nowadays, many women are stay-at-home moms, and many women are also working moms; both of these lifestyles are completely valid. However, the pandemic has impacted working mothers disproportionately in comparison to working fathers.
Since the 1900s, women dominated the workforce in the 60s with the first feminist movement. Even in the beginning of 2020, women held the majority of jobs in the U.S. However, once the coronavirus hit the nation, people got sick, lost their jobs, and were forced to stay at home. This, in turn, created the need for more childcare, household work, as well as new priorities for families; those contrary to a typical routine and a 9 to 5 job. So, looking back to traditional gender roles, these priorities and responsibilities fell primarily on women. When the initial hiatus was over, and parents were forced to work from home, many working mothers were faced with a difficult decision. Would they quit their job? Lower their hours? These decisions would ultimately offset their careers, income, and professional goals, but someone needed to be there; someone that will actively engage with a child who may be struggling with their remote school work, or a toddler that would usually be at daycare. Although this is not the case for all families, it is clear that the working women who are forced to adjust their lives are considerably affected by this pandemic, especially from an occupational standpoint.
The coronavirus has also taken a toll on single parent families, even more so than dual parent households. These parents have significantly less support and assistance. Even without a pandemic, having a career and providing for a family while also caring for their children is extremely difficult. Furthermore, although children live in both single mother or father homes across the country, a 2019 report shows that 13 million households are run by a single mother. Additionally, 43.9% of Black children live with a single mother. That is comparative to 7% of white children with the same living situation. These statistics bring to light how race is ingrained in this larger problem. Many working mothers from all types of families have had to give up their jobs since March, but data proves that single mothers, the majority being BIPOC, have been hit the hardest in regard to this issue.
The effects of women leaving the workforce not only leave a mark on the economy, but also delay the evolution of gender equity. With significantly less women employed in professional settings, there are even less opportunities and time for women to be on the job and therefore advance. This creates a larger gap in skill and pay, which is a major setback for women’s equality. But with help from employers and companies, working women may not be impacted as badly. Many companies are offering additional childcare support and more flexible hours to combat the rapidly decreasing amount of women in the workplace. But, this pandemic is a ways away from its end, and every person has had to deal with the dreadful impact it has made in everyday life. It is important to recognize the sacrifices that so many people have made, for the country, but also for their own families.
Sources:
Comments