Disciplines
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Abstract (300 words maximum)
The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us many lessons. Some of which were only made possible because of its widespread impact in every aspect of our lives. One of the lessons we learned is the value of anything unexpected. From medical research to political rhetoric and socio-political debate, the pandemic has shaped the home, the workplace, and the community.
Issues related to equity, or better-said inequities, became a flashpoint for the disparities that exist in society. Said inequity was discovered in various capacities such as gender discrimination, underpaid salaries, and barriers to accessing efficient healthcare. Disparities that under “normal conditions” would not have been permissible in the ethical study of human subjects. Although this research does not engage in collecting data from direct human subjects, it does provide a glimpse into what women were feeling as the pandemic unfolded. Through an examination of 150 newspaper articles and grey literature, collected in real-time, a thematic analysis surrounding the inequities in the home and in the workplace during the first year of COVID-19 was completed. During this presentation, major and minor themes will be shared through the lens of women currently in the formal workforce; and how the collective “herstory” will impact girls, women, families, workplaces, and society in the future.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
WCHHS - Social Work and Human Services
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Dr. Darlene Rodriguez-Schaefer
Included in
Gender Inequity as an Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us many lessons. Some of which were only made possible because of its widespread impact in every aspect of our lives. One of the lessons we learned is the value of anything unexpected. From medical research to political rhetoric and socio-political debate, the pandemic has shaped the home, the workplace, and the community.
Issues related to equity, or better-said inequities, became a flashpoint for the disparities that exist in society. Said inequity was discovered in various capacities such as gender discrimination, underpaid salaries, and barriers to accessing efficient healthcare. Disparities that under “normal conditions” would not have been permissible in the ethical study of human subjects. Although this research does not engage in collecting data from direct human subjects, it does provide a glimpse into what women were feeling as the pandemic unfolded. Through an examination of 150 newspaper articles and grey literature, collected in real-time, a thematic analysis surrounding the inequities in the home and in the workplace during the first year of COVID-19 was completed. During this presentation, major and minor themes will be shared through the lens of women currently in the formal workforce; and how the collective “herstory” will impact girls, women, families, workplaces, and society in the future.