We are all weathering the storm of COVID-19 together. But the reality is, we are in different boats. Designing effective and equitable response and recovery plans needs rigorous application of a gender and diversity lens. On one end of the spectrum - in the front trenches of immediate health care delivery and senior’s care - women constitute a majority of those assuming heightened risk. Women are also more severely impacted by the pandemic because of their disproportionate poverty levels, unequal access to services, more limited networks and heightened vulnerability to violence in isolation.
At the same time, COVID is illustrating the unique and highly effective role of women in power and decision-making positions including as Public Health Officers, Ministers of Health and Heads of State. These realities urge us to disaggregate data to ‘see’ things differently, design things differently – and lead differently.
Dr. Betsy McGregor
Three Canadian political trailblazers share their thoughts on what it will take to get more women elected
Lessons in leading through a crisis from a woman who started her career as a nurse and is now the CEO of a global nonprofit.
The pandemic has pushed women’s participation in the labour force down to its lowest level in three decades, with 1.5 million women losing their jobs in the first two months of the recession.
Since the start of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the relationship between national female leaders and their effectiveness in handling the COVID-crisis has received a lot of media attention. In this paper we scrutinise this association more systematically.
The coronavirus crisis is continuing to impact the way we all live and work, but new data from Lean In and McKinsey & Company shows that women are being disproportionately affected by today’s pandemic. n its newly released “Women in the Workplace” report, Lean In and McKinsey & Company found that one in four women are considering downshifting their careers or leaving the workforce due to the impact of Covid-19.
Plan highlights how addressing systemic racism and increasing investments in child care, housing, and internet access can improve economic security for communities across Canada
This policy brief by the UN Secretary-General explores how women and girls’ lives are changing in the face of COVID-19, and outlines suggested priority measures to accompany both the immediate response and longer-term recovery efforts.
Link leads to multiple gender-specific tools and strategies deployed to disaggregate data, demonstrate differential impact of the pandemic and plan policy for COVID recovery.
Resetting Normal is a series of reports on gender equality and the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. The series explores risks to human rights exposed by the pandemic and proposes new ways to build a gender-equal Canada in pandemic recovery efforts.
As working mums perform more childcare and face increased job insecurity, there are fears Covid-19 has undone decades of advancement. But could the pandemic be a catalyst for progress?
Globally, women, girls and gender-diverse people will be disproportionately impacted by this pandemic, and that will be the case in Canada as well. In times of uncertainty, existing inequality will be amplified. We are already seeing an increased need to address gender-based violence, improve access to economic security and invest in essential services.
How will Plan International support girls, young women and vulnerable groups? Frequently asked questions about the COVID-19 pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic is having an unprecedented impact on vulnerable women and girls throughout Canada. Programs and services are seeing a surge in gender-based violence and economic problems and they’re struggling to meet women’s needs.
The New York Times reports that “a new leadership style offers promise for a new era of global threats.” Starting from New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern female leadership is paving a path forward for countries and their economies.
“Lockdown measures and school closures affect girls and women differently across the world and may have long-term negative consequences”, reports Talha Burki. This is a study on the redirect impacts of COVID-19 on women.
An excellent interactive piece from the United Nations exploring the impacts of COVID-19 on Women.
Harvard business review reports that countries with female leadership have suffered 6 times fewer confirmed deaths from Covid-19 than countries with governments lead by men. Although, correlation and not causation, Covid-19 has undeniably shined a spotlight on good and pragmatic female leadership across the globe. Will this fact translate into more elected female leaders in government?
A new study from the Women’s National Housing and Homelessness Network shows that = women experiencing homelessness in Canada are falling through major gaps in support systems and falling into precarious situations.
COVID-19 has disproportionately put First Nations, Inuit and Métis women and girls at a greater risk of violence. Read the full article.
Additional reporting on the divergence in job loss between men and women during the reopening process.Read the article on the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/29/covid-19-crisis-could-set-women-back-decades-experts-fear
The media has widely reported that countries led by women, such as Germany, New Zealand, Iceland and Finland, have been faring better than other sin combating COVID-19 in their countries. These women leaders tend to act quickly, close borders and businesses early, and implement clear, thorough and well-executed plans from social distancing to gradual reopening.
In countries most impacted by coronavirus disease (COVID-19), such as Italy and China, surveillance reveals that the number of deaths differ by sex. Preliminary data suggest that while the distributions of cases vary by sex, men represent the larger proportion of deaths in these countries.
Writer Rosemary Ganley ponders big and bold thoughts on rebuilding the Canada we want.
Historical analysis from the National Geographic that remains piercingly relevant today.