How women are faring during Covid: Between inequality and vulnerability

While disparities already existed between men and women, the past year has created an even bigger gulf of inequality, as the pandemic has shifted greater burdens onto women in terms of workloads, job losses, and their physical and mental health.

In addition to revealing existing inequality, the pandemic has also increased women’s vulnerability. Given that they are more likely to experience poverty and insecurity, many women are not in a good position to cope with the adversity of the crisis. Yet women are mostly the ones holding Greater Montreal together by providing care, education, food, and support.

Women: a group already at greater risk of poverty and social exclusion”

Inequality reinforced by the pandemic

Employment

Quicker job losses with a slower recovery”

While the start of the crisis affected male-dominated employment sectors such as construction and manufacturing, women have been more affected by job losses overall, and their economic prospects had a rocky recovery in the spring and summer.

Work-life balance

A heavier burden for women to carry”

More so than men, women have had to juggle multiple tasks during the pandemic, such as schooling their children, performing more child care, as well as supporting aging parents. This pressure and stress seem to have weighed more heavily on women, tipping the scales of an already uneven workload even more to their side.

Mental health

Women more psychologically affected”

Different types of studies and surveys conducted during the pandemic suggest that women have been more affected psychologically. They report poorer mental health, such as anxiety, stress, feelings of powerlessness, and fear.

Particularly affected groups:

Close-up on psychological distress*

*This data does not come from the same sources and are drawn from surveys. They therefore cannot be generalized to the entire population.

Our investments to support women

These agencies act on realities specific to women and offer a range of services adapted to their needs in different aspects of their lives. They also work with the community through awareness and anti-discrimination initiatives.

The centres offer services for women, such as discussion groups and support workshops on topics such as housing, violence, immigration and sexual assault. They run computer and budgeting classes and may also offer support to help women return to school, settle in a new place, deal with mental health issues, or work on a personal or collective project that helps them develop their skills and self-esteem.

Women’s centres are also places where people can come together to create support networks and develop a sense of belonging to the community.

Helping women during a pandemic, the example of the Centre des femmes d’ici et d’ailleurs”

Located in the east sector of Villeray near Saint-Michel, the Centre des femmes d’ici et d’ailleurs offers support, referrals, listening and a meeting place to women from all backgrounds.

the wake of the pandemic and required health measures, the Centre set up a virtual videoconferencing service after buying computer equipment with the help of Centraide, whose support also allowed the agency to lend laptops with built-in Internet capabilities to women who lacked access to these devices for myriad reasons.

To help more isolated women who have never received support, the agency also adapted its practices in the field and found new ways of doing things. For example, since the fall, it has been offering a walk-and-talk service. At their convenience, in the outdoor location of their choice (park, public place), and in compliance with health rules, women can meet with a counsellor who can help them and refer them to the appropriate support resources. Women who use this service experience a range of problems, from family violence and mental health issues to parental challenges.

Some results and impacts