Women and the ‘silent pandemic’

Sir, – As we continue to live with Covid-19 in lockdown and make plans around recovery, we are increasingly concerned about the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on women’s lives, physical and mental health, and livelihoods. Women’s inclusion in the Covid-19 response has been largely tokenistic or actively ignored with many of the issues impacting women disproportionately still a problem a year on.

Now widely being referred to as the “silent pandemic” for women, we see it manifested in many different levels, in violence, childcare, education, and care in the home.

In Ireland, women’s health is still not seen as a priority during the pandemic, in particular the health of disabled women. Women and pregnant people are still having to travel abroad to access abortion services. Women are still having to give birth alone. The closure of creches and schools continues to place unequal burden on women’s caring responsibilities, the physical, emotional, and financial cost of which is enormous.

Frontline workers, the majority of whom are women, are shouldering a disproportionate share of the work of providing essential services without any childcare, while caring for children, older people and loved ones who are at higher risk or who need greater support during this pandemic. Women’s economic equality is still taking a major hit, with job losses in sectors in which women predominate, such as retail and hospitality. Women are leaving the workforce to look after their families at home. Women trapped in domestic violence are still facing pronounced barriers to supports.

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All of these issues are compounded for those with additional multisectionalities, including trans and non-binary people. Migrant women, women living in direct provision, Traveller women and other ethnic minority women, are still being impacted disproportionately by the pandemic. An intersectional feminist approach to all government recovery plans is essential. The voices in the media reporting on the pandemic are predominantly male voices who do not reflect this reality.

The inclusion of these women’s voices in decision making in relation to Covid-19 services and recovery is crucial.

If women’s voices are continually ignored the long-term impacts for women’s equality will be immeasurable. It is critical that this Government not only listens to how Covid-19 is impacting women disproportionately but acts on and prioritises women’s needs. – Yours, etc,

ORLA O’CONNOR,

Director,

National Women’s Council

Dublin7;

ÉIRÉNNE CARROLL,

Chief Executive,

Transgender Equality

Network of Ireland,

MONINNE GRIFFITH,

Chief Executive,

BeLonG To Youth Services;

AMANDA MELLET,

Termination for Medical

Reasons Ireland,

Waterford;

DOIREANN ANSBRO,

Head of Legal

and Policy,

ELIZABETH CARTHY,

Policy Officer,

Irish Council

for Civil Liberties;

MARIA JOYCE,

Co-ordinator,

National Traveller

Women’s Forum;

MAEVE TAYLOR,

Director of Advocacy

and Communications,

Irish Family Planning

Association, Dublin;

NEM KEARNS,

Board Secretary,

AMY HASSETT,

Co-Director,

Disabled Women Ireland;.

FIONA CROWLEY,

Research

and Legal Manager,

Amnesty International

Ireland;

AILBHE SMYTH,

Convenor,

Coalition to Repeal

the Eighth Amendment;

MIRIAM HOLT,

National Coordinator,

National Collective

of Community-based

Women’s Networks;

Dr EIMEAR

McCARTHY, GP,

START Doctors, Cork.

JOANNE NEARY,

Co-Convener,

Abortion Rights

Campaign, Dublin;

HELEN STONEHOUSE,

Co-Convener,

Abortion Rights

Campaign, Dublin.