EQUALITY
Sexism Has Gone Viral
See something say something it is time to speak up
Sexism is now more widespread than ever before.
“Homophobia, racism, and sexism are all rooted in the same oppression that causes a group of people to internalize the oppression they’ve experienced and then continue the cycle of abuse. Simply put, hurt people hurt people.”
Among the many negative repercussions that accompany COVID-19, there is one that we tend not to dwell on. With remote working becoming the norm and mass closures of public spaces worldwide, we’re now spending much more time at home.
While working from home feels like a blessing for some — it has become a menace for many. While discussing the drawbacks of remote working with my friends, I realized there was more to the issue at hand than what I thought.
Not only has working from home added to the enormous burdens of women across the globe, the closures of daycares and schools has made it worse. It isn’t to say that these measures weren’t necessary, but the coronavirus has silenced sexism.
Sexism has long been an issue in society. Females have been fighting for equal treatment and against discrimination for years. However, the dynamics that come into play with the onset of the pandemic, women became forced into silence.
How has sexism gotten worse with the coronavirus?
Among the people employed before the pandemic, almost half of them are now working from home. Several corporations plan on extending their work from home policies for many more months to come. On top of this, daycares, schools, and public spaces are still uncertain about reopening.
Did you know women do triple the amount of unpaid labor than their male counterparts? Having to take care of children without the help of a daycare has only added to their daily duties.
Three hundred million students are out of school and at home. Women now have to help their children set up video conferences and assist them with homework as they can no longer turn to their teachers. With the elderly at a higher risk of death from the virus, children can’t stay with their grandparents.
While many workers were allowed to switch to remote working for managing their children, others had employers that weren’t as understanding. Being at home with children and without a job has led to stress and anxiety that only a post-pandemic study will reveal. Already, depression and mental illness has skyrocketed across the world.
Women have been on the receiving end of discrimination for years. The issues we see because of the pandemic were always present. However, the epidemic has, quite literally, made sexism viral.
It amplified the discrimination and unequal burden that women face, but we have also had to swallow a bitter pill with a straight face. Because with a global pandemic, what else can we do? The changes that have taken place were necessary, and the repercussions, unfortunately, are making the most substantial toll on women.
Most healthcare workers are women
Healthcare workers, nurses, teachers, flight attendants, and many others in the service industry are women. Women are facing more turmoil at home; they’re also the ones facing the virus head-on.
The majority of frontline workers against the pandemic are women. 73% of women healthcare workers in the US have been infected so far, as opposed to 27% of men. It means that they’re also more at risk of isolating, taking weeks off work, and taking care of their household while being ill, slows down the recovery rate as well.
Healthcare workers are quick to catch the virus because of their constant exposure. Because of this, the ones that are still on duty are working several hours overtime, often with scars and marks on their faces from wearing protective equipment for long hours.
Why is the pandemic exacerbating this problem?
Although we now understand their inherent biases, gender roles persist in society today. When there’s a crisis at the pandemic level, issues such as sexism goes on the back burner. It means that gender roles have made a comeback, and most people are finding it pointless to speak up against them.
Women get paid less than men. An average white woman earns only $0.79 for every $1 that a white man makes. Women of color experience a more significant wage gap. Why is this information necessary? Because when two people decide who needs to quit their job to watch the kids, the duty naturally falls on the one whose job is less beneficial to the family.
Similarly, when deciding who becomes the caretaker for sick parents, relatives, and children, the duty falls on the one whose job is less demanding, pays less, or allows for more time off. Having a flexible job is a privilege, but it means women take on more responsibility when it comes to breaking down household duties.
The secret second shift has only gotten worse
You may not be informed about it, but almost every working woman works a second shift — whether she knows it or not. After work, women cook, clean, look after their children and partners, pay bills, run errands, and much more. They’re up late into the night, ensuring everything is functioning before they resume work the next day.
Because women were already doing three times as much unpaid labor as men before the pandemic, their second shift during the pandemic has skyrocketed to new heights. They don’t even have the support of family and daycares, and their children are now home during regular school hours.
Men are working from home too, and no doubt, they are experiencing levels of anxiety and stress of their own. However, most of them only dealing with the importance of their jobs and the pandemic changes in their workplace dynamic.
On the other hand, women are dealing with their jobs and the additional stress of managing their homes 24/7.
“There’s no such thing as sexism against men. That’s because sexism is prejudice + power. Men are the dominant gender with power in society.”
There’s silence around domestic violence
Domestic abuse is widespread throughout the country, but women sought solace in their workplaces or away from home. Now, without a place to go, with the men in their households being home 24/7, they have fared the worst fate. Domestic abuse has gone up by nearly 20% since the pandemic began, and victims can’t seek shelter outside their homes.
Previously, organizations protested against domestic violence with calls for gender equality, safe spaces for women, and empowering women to leave abusive situations. Because many of them have realized this is no longer a viable option, there is only talk of encouraging peace and stability within homes, with an outlet not being a solution anymore.
What can we do about this viral sexism?
It’s crucial to catch the rising sexism before it becomes another pandemic element that we can’t control. There are years of protests and hard work behind the freedom and liberty that women enjoy today, and we can’t allow the situation surrounding the coronavirus to let these efforts go to waste.
For starters, companies need to acknowledge that many women were the only breadwinners and often lived in single-parent households. They must be paid an equal wage as their male colleagues when survival is more difficult now than ever before.
There should be an introduction of support groups for women working from home. A community of women who are all experiencing the hardship of working second shifts apart from their job will offer a safe space. They’ll be able to discuss their problems and find resources and advice that have helped other women.
Additionally, we need to give more attention to small businesses, founded by budding women entrepreneurs. They’ve lost the opportunity to market and expand their business on a grand scale, but by purchasing from them and investing in their products and services, we can keep their businesses afloat.
Joe Biden’s running mate could be a game-changer
Senator Kamala Harris, a vocal Black politician of biracial origins, could be a game-changer for women. She’s historically become the first woman of color on a major-party presidential ticket and one of the only four women who have ever been on a major-party card.
For women and young girls across the country, this is an opportunity to be heard. It is an opportunity to have our struggles seen by someone who has walked in our shoes. Harris was raised by her single mother since the age of 5 and is more than well aware of the sexism a woman of color — especially a single mother — has to endure.
As someone who understands the issues of marginalized communities and women — she has a strong chance of advocating for women’s rights and using her experiences to fight for change.
Final words
Women make 50.52% of the population. The coronavirus has affected everyone all over the world. Why then, is the burden of this pandemic falling more heavily on one part of the society? Understandably, the pressures of the pandemic have taken away the focus from many other pertinent issues.
However, rather than brushing them under the rug thoroughly, we need to come up with solutions that take the pandemic and gender inequality in their stride. This pandemic will have long-lasting effects that will lead to a permanent impact on society.
“Despite girls’ sparkling resumes — including rates of college enrollment and high school grades that outstrip boys — sexism is a barrier that still leaves girls ambivalent about power. Opening doors has not amounted to ambition to lead for many of them, even those with options, networks, and resources.”