‘The coronavirus pandemic has been, and will continue to be, devastating for women’

As we near a year of restrictions as a result of the pandemic, the disproportionate impact on particular groups in our society is becoming increasingly clear.

The launch of the UN Women report From Insights to Action, exploring the impact of Covid-19 on women, confirmed what many of us knew instinctively at the beginning of lockdown: the coronavirus pandemic has been, and will continue to be, devastating for women.

47 million women and girls worldwide will be pulled into extreme poverty, and a plethora of reports focusing on the UK back up the disproportionate impact here, too, especially on women from minority ethnic backgrounds and those in low-paid jobs or with caring responsibilities.

In spring 2020, as Boris Johnson was struck down, there was much talk of the “virus that doesn’t discriminate”.

How wrong we were. Empowered by a weak, floundering government, the pandemic has unearthed fault lines in our system that we have to address. The myth of “modern women having it all” has been truly debunked.

As the council cabinet member for women, children and families in Bristol, I have long recognised that outcomes for children and families in the city are inextricably linked to the wellbeing and welfare of our women.

As the country is left reeling from the impact of a third national lockdown, we must reflect on the decisions that have been made and look to how we can re-build a more inclusive society through our recovery.

Despite the progress that has been made in recent decades, women continue to earn less, have fewer savings and make up the majority of single parent households. They also make up 73 per cent of the part-time workforce and 77 per cent of those without access to statutory sick pay, making them far more vulnerable to economic shocks.

This is a situation that only appears to be worsening as the pandemic continues to wreak havoc on our lives. Research tells us that while during the first lockdown, men and women were equally likely to lose their jobs, the impact seems to be skewing towards women as restrictions continue.

The burden of home-schooling is also falling disproportionately on women, writes Helen Godwin. Photo: Melanie Vaxevanakis

As many will know from experience, the burden of home-schooling is also falling disproportionately on women.

In a survey of co-parenting couples who were working through the first lockdown, researchers found that 75 per cent of women were responsible for coordinating and organising children’s activities, compared to just 18 per cent of men.

Worryingly from conversations with my constituents, for huge numbers of women the expectation on them from employers has not changed, despite children being at home with schoolwork to do and no family support available.

We all smiled and thought it was cute when experts appearing on Sky News had children pottering in the background or in one case, negotiating for more biscuits whilst his mum was live on air. But the emotional stress and challenge of combining work and home brought immeasurable stress and anxiety into many families.

The fragility of the economy and imbalance of the labour market has been laid bare. How do we reform the workplace, wider industry, and ensure that high productivity combines with wellbeing, economic resilience and opportunity for all?

The Bristol Women’s Commission have set out a clear case for doing things differently post Covid-19, in recognition of the fact that a truly inclusive economy must have gender equality at its heart, not only because this is fair and just, but because this will ensure economic growth that will benefit everyone.

Rightly, their report points to the need for employers to support women with childcare responsibilities, but it also calls on decision makers to recognise childcare as key to the infrastructure of our society and fund it accordingly. Supporting affordable childcare was a priority for us last year as part of the One City Plan, but this year has highlighted the urgency of the issue.

Unfortunately, there has been little by way of thanks for the hard work of childcare providers, with the government recently taking the decision to fund nurseries based on actual numbers of children attending rather than continuing to fund on pre-Covid levels.

Helen Godwin gives her view as the cabinet member for women, children and families. Photo: Bristol City Council

This will undoubtedly result in underfunding and ultimately closures. With many parents not sending their children due to safety concerns or because they are homeworking, current numbers are artificially low.  But when things slowly return to normal, we will be left with a lack of providers still in business, impacting on women and families for years to come.

Beyond childcare, inclusive employment and training opportunities will be crucial if we are not to lose the ground we’ve gained when it comes to gender equality in recent decades, and initiatives like the Women’s Work Lab, who support mums in receipt of benefits back into employment, have never been more important.

We must seize the opportunity for the increased flexibility in terms of where and when employees work to be a permanent feature of work for those who are in jobs that can be carried out remotely.

And we must capitalise on the appreciation of our health and care workforce, which is overwhelmingly female, to push for pay and conditions that reflect the work they do and the risks they are exposed to.

One of the lessons of Covid-19 must be the importance of having diverse voices at the table when economic and industrial strategies are being formed. Only women’s voices can accurately share women’s realities. We need more women elected to senior positions across all levels of government.

This is how we will not only build back better but build back equal.

Helen Godwin is cabinet member for women, children and families.

Main photo: Bristol Women’s Commission

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