How COVID Affecting Working Mothers?
Since COVID is showing no signs of ceasing, the current scenario has affected the lifestyle of every single individual across the globe. According to the survey held for Coronavirus, job losses in almost every field have affected the mental grief of people. Women, specifically working ones are struggling and failing worse than men in their respective fields since the beginning period of this pandemic.
Let’s know-how!
Working mothers are continuously striving through this tough time and trying to maintain an equitable balance between personal and professional lives, surrounded by the kids at home all the time. The various analysis made during this tough situation has represented the plight of women, losing their jobs, or have been sacked and face the greater responsibility of their child during this pandemic period. It has also been observed that the working hours of women have reduced and a major proportion of their time is devoted to childcare, disrupting their work time.
As the situation of COVID has lead children to stay at home, the responsibility and dedication towards the child have given rise to family pressure or extra burden on family members. The study has reported that many of the working mothers, providing care to the children, have become a victim of cognitive affliction as compared to those who don’t have children. The current position may make an abiding effect on the anticipation of working mothers.
What leads the working mother to struggle so much?
Well, there are several reasons concerning the current COVID-19 disaster, and the coexisting downturns in the fields have unfairly affected working mothers.
Primarily, the crisis of COVID has demolished the income service-oriented sectors; those women were a major part of. Mothers, who were in such paid work before this lockdown situation has either lost the job now. Some also had to do a job quit for their family due to the closure of schools and nurseries. The lockdown period has made it difficult for other family members to help. As a result, there is an increase in the struggle of a working mother.
Though women were earlier also responsible for taking care of their children, the pandemic has increased these demands even more! Looking after their children and balancing their work simultaneously is resulting in high family burdens! If not by the deadly virus, but still working mothers are bearing the adverse effect of COVID, mentally.
Is there any possibility of high job loss for less-educated women? Probably yes!
There is proof that less-educated women had to face high job losses after the COVID period has begun and there is a drop seen in employment April afterward as compared to March month. There is another report stating that the engagement of women in the labor market is less seen than men, resulting in emotional anxiety. The pandemic has increased the level of mental aches in women with children than men. The cases have seen a huge hike in early April — when the lockdown started and working mothers had struggled unequal impact caused by the deadly virus.
Working mothers are seen to be more indulged in child care as the lockdown period started as compared to men. In the early month of April, a major proportion of women have worked as the only household member, according to studies. Additionally, women were not equally taken into consideration in economic life activities; there are chances of getting affected by this COVID pandemic. The current situation has forced working mothers, similar to other professionals to actively work from home, which has hit them tough as they have to invest on family and work both!
Loyce Atim
