Cause for concerns: gender inequality in experiencing the COVID-19 lockdown in Germany

Abstract

COVID-19 is having a tremendous impact on gender relations, as care needs have been magnified due to schools and day-care closures. Using topic modeling on over 1,100 open reports from a survey fielded during the first four weeks of the lockdown in Germany, we shed light on how personal experiences of the lockdown differ between women and men. Our results show that, in general, people were most concerned about social contacts and childcare. However, we find clear differences among genders: women worried more about childcare while men were more concerned about paid work and the economy. We argue that the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting women more heavily than men not only at the physical level of work (e.g. women are reducing more paid work hours than men), but also through increasing the division regarding the cognitive level of work (e.g. women are more worried about childcare work while men are about paid work). These developments can potentially contribute to a future widening of the gender wage gap during the recovery process.

Who is most affected by the Corona crisis? An analysis of changes in stress and well-being in Switzerland

“…We did, however, find a more pronounced decrease in life satisfaction for women. This is in line with findings that the Covid-19 crisis impacts the mental health of women negatively (Daly et al 2020), due to specific challenges such as increase in unpaid care work (Czymara et al 2020). With regards to other workload variables, as we expected, working from home and short time work might have both negative and positive aspects.…”

“…Women are overrepresented in the work sectors predominantly impacted by the Covid-19 crisis (International Labour Organization (ILO) 2020a). Moreover, the lockdown measures have increased the amount of unpaid care done by women, especially with respect to child care and home schooling (Czymara et al 2020). In line with this, findings from the UK show that among women mental health problems increased during the Covid-19 pandemic (Daly et al 2020).…”

“…The workload has increased for a large part of the population and worklife balance has been impacted by school closures and the obligation to work from home (Craig and Churchill 2020;Czymara et al 2020). In particular, there are indications that gender-related inequalities are exacerbated through the Covid-19 crisis.…”

Changes in employment and relationship satisfaction in times of the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from the German family Panel

“…An important aspect in discussions about the social consequences of this crisis relates to its potential impact on gender inequalities in families and, consequently, society as a whole (e.g. Alon et al 2020;Settersten et al 2020; see also Czymara et al 2020). Empirical studies assessing changes in couples' division of housework and childcare during the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g.…”

Childcare-policy responses in the COVID-19 pandemic: unpacking cross-country variation

“…German sociologist Allmendinger drew a looming picture in early May, warning that the Corona crisis might set back gender-equality progress by no less than 30 years. 1 In this respect, emerging evidence shows a nuanced view: working mothers are indeed at higher risk of being overburdened with the re-familiarised care work, shortening working hours, even quitting their job, or being dismissed (Czymara et al 2020;Andrew et al 2020). Yet women are also overrepresented amongst 'key workers', and fathers have increased their share of care-and housework during lockdowns, e.g.…”