Despite claims that COVID-19 has largely been an equalizer in indiscriminately affecting communities around the world, it can be seen that women’s experiences of the pandemic are often uniquely individual and under-recognized. It is therefore essential to highlight the different ways in which women have been impacted in a variety of fields, faced with new challenges every day. From the outset, it must be stressed that this report does not capture the experiences of all women, nor are female experiences homogenous and the same. However, there has been an increase in disparities across the workforce that disproportionately affect women; events that this report aims to capture.

Domestic violence services

For many women experiencing domestic violence, access to support systems and public services have been more difficult than ever. The largest change has been a global shift towards working from home, meaning increased contact and time spent with perpetrators of abuse. Even before the beginning of the pandemic, the United Nations estimated that 243 million women and girls were subjected to sexual and/or physical violence in the past 12 months. As a result of confined living conditions and stricter physical restrictions, this violence is likely to increase and intensify. In France, reported domestic violence cases increased by 30% since their lock-down commenced on March 17th. Emergency shelters in Canada, the UK, the US and Spain have been inundated with calls seeking assistance from domestic violence in the past three months. In Australia, a NSW survey reveals that 40% of frontline workers have received increased requests for help by DV survivors.

Even accessing emergency shelter or hotline services has become more challenging. With social distancing restrictions being placed around the world, many shelters are required to turn away women seeking assistance simply because there is not enough space to maintain safety requirements. Calls to domestic violence hotlines and virtual contact via chatrooms have fallen. This may initially appear strange- especially when domestic violence is more likely to occur during the pandemic. However, it is highly likely that women are now underreporting cases, especially as abusers are often in close quarters with them. With many now unable to access networks and organizations of support, it also means that that survivors are less likely to escape abusive situations or receive help.

Many women also experience a gendered digital divide as they are more likely to have limited access to internet services or phones and computers that are used to access hotlines. Gendered access exacerbates inequalities and violence against women. This often results in more serious injuries, greater threats to safety and life and significant challenges to service workers who are dealing with DV cases.

Medical services

As the crisis progresses, there has been an unprecedented demand for healthcare workers; specifically nurses and aged care workers who are largely comprised of women. It must be stressed that all frontline workers have been incredible and crucial in saving the lives of millions. Recognizing how women in medical services have been affected does not invalidate the contributions of non-female frontline workers. Rather, it recognizes how different workers can be affected in different ways.

About 70% of global healthcare workers are women. Working in hospitals and in private practices, many are actively involved in treating coronavirus patients, whether it be through direct care, surgical procedures or workers involved in providing food and hygiene. With this high demand, there has also be increased contact with infected individuals, expanding the risk of contracting the illness itself or passing it to family members.

With this heightened vulnerability, it can be expected that female medical professionals would receive greater protections. However, healthcare workers around the world are facing reduced access to personal protective equipment (PPE). This was most acutely felt in the early stages of the pandemic when national supplies were conserved and hoarded, meaning healthcare workers had to go without. Many women were therefore placed at higher risks of developing the illness.

For pregnant nurses and midwives, the pandemic was especially frightening. Around the world, medical professionals were being redeployed in the public health sector, placing vulnerable workers at risk. Even when pregnant professionals were given alternative duties, there were still risks involved; whether it be through travelling to work or being exposed to co-workers who had been working with coronavirus patients. Inadequate protections escalate conflict and insecurity, placing unfair and unequal burdens on workers in certain professions. When even our frontline workers are unprotected, how can we guarantee to protect the entire community?

Conclusion

Originally, this report was intended to highlight women’s experiences. However, the experiences of women are so diverse and unique that they cannot be entirely encompassed within this piece. Frankly, this article has been continuously cut to fit the word limit and even now, it has not provided any recommendations or suggestions for the future, nor talked about education, legal or retail sectors. This is therefore the first part of three articles that highlight how structures constantly affect women in ways that may not be experienced by our male counterparts. Women’s health and safety directly affect peace and conflict around the world and their experiences must be highlighted and understood in order to collectively ensure a safer global community.