Gender norms and the coronavirus

Around the world, coronavirus has both highlighted and worsened existing inequalities with women baring the brunt of child-care and suffering the greatest economic and social blows. Published by: The Guardian

In what countries are women and girls most exposed to the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic? How well can countries address these effects? To answer these questions, Data2X has shared a new brief published in partnership with Open…

This podcast event brings together global experts on gender issues to discuss the urgent need to support women. How can women’s vulnerability be considered in pandemic preparedness and response? And what is the role of the policymaker in re…

The impacts of crises are never gender-neutral, and Covid-19 is no exception. This publication summarises data, research, and policy work by UN Women’s Policy and Programme Division on the pandemic’s impact on women and girls, including the impact…

This article looks at new research which suggests the increased sharing of childcare and housework during the first UK lockdown was seemingly temporary. Published by: The Guardian

Emerging public discourses around the Covid-19 crisis have characterised this pandemic as unprecedented and disruptive. This blog asks the question 'how exactly do such global disruptions of unprecedented nature affect men and masculinities?' …

Article looking at how quibbles over who does the housework during the recent coronavirus lockdown have brought the gender politics of India's homes into the open. Published by: BBC News

This article explores the warning coming from campaign groups that women across Europe risk being pushed back into traditional roles. Published by: The Guardian

This article describes the serious plight of India’s domestic workers, laid off with no resources and often little family support, during the Covid-19 lockdown. Published by: News 18 - India

This article discusses potential post-pandemic positive changes in domestic labour. There are suggestions that gender equity might be one of the winners from this crisis but there are also suggestions of the opposite – that existing inequalities…

With many schools closed as a result of the pandemic and girls' education being particularly badly affect, this article looks at the long-term affect this is projected to have on rates of child marriage with the UN warning it could lead to 13…

In this final blog of the "Diaries from the frontline" series, the authors examine how particularly vulnerable population groups are affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. This blog looks at refugee children in Lebanon, girls in Pakistan faced with…

This article outlines the constraints rural indigenous children, particularly girls, face in accessing learning through Mexico’s Aprende en la Casa (Learn at Home) programme. Published by: Brookings

This post summarises the potentially gender-differentiated effects of Covid-19 on young people’s educational opportunities and outcomes. It also flags a survey seeking responses from front-line service providers on the specific risks to girls of…

This article shows how one of the most commonly adopted and recommended ways of continuing education during periods of school closure is skewed in favour of better off groups, with gender inequalities in some contexts. Published by: UKFIET

To commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, this news report reflect on the increase of violence against women driven by Covid-19. By sharing experiences from women in different contexts (Morocco, India,…

This blog summarises the findings of current research by the authors on the pathways that link pandemics with violence against women and children. With more evidence based on rigorous data analysis, the authors suggest that COVID-19 and associated…

This article explores links between ‘stay-at-home’ policies in Peru and the incidence rate of reported intimate partner violence (IPV) measured through phone calls to the main Peruvian help line. Peru was one of the earliest coronavirus lockdowns…

This piece notes that prior to the coronavirus outbreak, gender and domestic violence as well as feminicide rates were already on the rise in Mexico, in part due to harmful gender norms that lead to physical, psychosocial, sexual or economic…

This blog examines the reasons behind several European countries (Turkey, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria) wishing to leave the Istanbul Convention (which requires state parties to introduce laws that address GBV) despite the increase in domestic…

This article begins by examining the kinds of violence driven by patriarchal behaviours that affect women during Covid-19, such as minimizing or monitoring victims’ communication with friends and family; depriving victims of their basic needs;…

Rising Flame initiated this research study in collaboration with Sightsavers to respond to the urgent needs of women with disabilities in India during the Covid-19 pandemic. The aim of this research is to capture and amplify voices and narratives…

Women with disabilities across Nigeria have lamented their exclusion from intervention programmes by governments meant to cushion the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic. Published by: Sahara Reporters

News article to accompany the launch of a UN report calling for a disability-inclusive recovery and response to the Covid-19 crisis. The report comes after UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, said the crisis was intensifying inequalities…

Some positive changes in gender norms coming out of the pandemic in the UK being reported in this article by the Guardian. Men are spending more time with their children and businesses are seeing economic benefits of flexible working. Published…

This podcast discusses how “gender” roles and norms impact general health and the Covid-19 pandemic. The podcast has two guest speakers both of whom are experts on how societal perceptions and stereotypes surrounding “masculinity” influence the…

This article outlines some of the ways that masculinities have been changing among some social groups and reinforced among others during the Covid-19 crisis in Uganda. Published by: School of Women and Gender Studies, Makerere University …

David Moinina Sengeh, Sierra Leone's education minister, shares a photo of himself with his 10-month-old daughter on his back as he cares for her whilst on a lockdown conference call. The minister chose to share the photo as an example for other…

The Men Engage Alliance has compiled useful resources on digital activism for equitable, compassionate and non-violent ways of being men during the Covid-19 pandemic. The collection includes materials in English and Spanish from Men Engage Africa,…

This piece highlights the slow pace of including mental health in low and middle income countries's responses to Covid-19 measures with a focus on Ethiopia. It also highlights how access to mental health care is driven by inequalities. Structural…

This article shows how a mental health programme adapted during Covid-19 to support those in need through online/remote/teletherapy methods. In so doing it found that addressing structural factors (e.g. inequalities in access to health education,…

This piece highlights how human vulnerability increases during crises which can also lead to increases in suicide rates. It notes that in India causes of suicide since the pandemic hit are more linked to starvation and accidents than the pandemic…

This briefing discusses the mental health effects of financial inequalities in the context of Covid-19. Drawing on evidence from “Coronavirus: Mental Health in the Pandemic” research – a UK-wide, long-term study - it concludes Covid-19 is putting…

This article shows how reduction in social interactions amongst adolescents during Covid-19 can have a detrimental effect on their mental health (which are also lessened, to a certain extent by digital forms of social interaction). The article is…

This policy brief highlights how widespread mental ill-health is, even when not in pandemic contexts and how it can be driven by a range of factors. The brief calls for urgent attention for specific population groups (including women, adolescents,…

The coronavirus has spotlighted the need for effective leadership in a crisis. Leadership research in applied psychology suggests that women tend to be preferred over men as leaders during uncertain times. This paper contributes to this literature…

Analysis of stories across six countries - UK, US, Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria and India - found fewer than a fifth of experts quoted on the pandemic were women. Published by: The Guardian

Countries with women in leadership have suffered six times fewer confirmed deaths from Covid-19 than countries with governments led by men. Unsurprisingly, the media has swelled with stories of their pragmatism, prowess — and humanity. This blog…

The Covid-19 crisis is disproportionately affecting women and girls. This makes it all the more important that their voices are equally included in the decision-making spaces and processes where responses are formed. This report by CARE found that…

Brands tend to portray gender using stereotypical roles in their advertisements. In most ads, men are the primary income earners and women as the primary carers. Marketers say this is audience-driven—that adverts simply reflect consumer attitudes…

Research article looking at why gender equality is good for the economy and society, with the Covid-19 pandemic putting that truth into stark relief and raising critically important choices. Published by: Mckinsey and Company

This blog looks explores ideas for longer term solutions during the recovery phase of the pandemic. Based on research from India, the blog looks at crisis management that can potentially bolster women’s economic agency. Published by: Gender and…

This policy brief highlights the key impacts of the pandemic on women who work in the informal economy in developing countries. It underscores their vulnerability to economic stress, as this demographic often lacks legal and social protections,…

This article discusses the International Labour Organisation (ILO)'s latest statement saying the pandemic is a bigger blow to gender-equal employment than it previously feared. Published by: The Guardian