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The Struggle of Women

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Throughout history, women have faced numerous challenges and obstacles that have shaped their experiences and impacted their opportunities in society. From ancient civilizations to modern times, the plight of women has been a central theme in the struggle for equality and empowerment. Let’s explore the historical context of women’s plight.

Women’s plight in history can be traced back to ancient civilizations where women were often relegated to subordinate roles in society. In many societies, women were considered property of their husbands or fathers, with little to no rights or autonomy. They were expected to fulfill traditional roles as wives, mothers, and caretakers, with limited opportunities for education or employment outside the home. This subjugation of women persisted through various historical periods, including the Middle Ages, where women were often viewed as inferior to men and subject to strict societal norms and expectations.

Susan ‘The Savior’

Despite these challenges, there have been influential individuals throughout history who have fought tirelessly for women’s rights and empowerment. One such figure is suffragist Susan B. Anthony, who played a pivotal role in the women’s suffrage movement in the United States. Through her advocacy and activism, Anthony helped secure the right for women to vote, paving the way for future generations of women to participate in the democratic process. Other key figures in the women’s rights movement include Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who co-founded the National Woman Suffrage Association, and Gloria Steinem, a prominent feminist writer and activist who helped spark the second wave of feminism in the 1960s and 1970s and is still active in fighting for women’s rights today.

The impact of women’s plight in history is far-reaching, influencing societal norms, legal systems, and cultural attitudes towards gender equality. The struggles and achievements of women throughout history have paved the way for greater opportunities and rights for women in modern times. Women now have access to education, employment, and political participation in ways that were unimaginable in previous centuries. However, despite these advancements, women continue to face challenges related to gender discrimination, wage disparities, and gender-based violence.

United on equality

From a positive perspective, the women’s rights movement has made significant progress in raising awareness about gender inequality and advocating for policy changes to promote gender equality. The establishment of organizations such as the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) has helped shine a spotlight on women’s issues worldwide. This will help mobilize resources to support women’s rights initiatives. Additionally, the #MeToo movement, which emerged in response to widespread sexual harassment and assault. Thankfully this has helped sparked important conversations about consent, boundaries, and gender-based violence.

Moving mountains takes time

On the other hand, there are still many negative aspects of women’s plight in history that persist today. Despite advancements in women’s rights, women continue to face systemic barriers to equality in various spheres of society. Women are still underrepresented in leadership positions in government, business, and academia. We continue to earn less than our male counterparts in many industries. Gender-based violence remains a pervasive issue, with women around the world experiencing high rates of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.

Looking towards the future, there are several key developments that could shape the trajectory of women’s plight in history. One potential area of progress is the continued advancement of women’s rights. This begins through legislative and policy changes at the national and international levels. Efforts to address gender-based violence, close the gender pay gap, and increase women’s representation in decision-making roles could help to promote gender equality and empower women in various sectors of society.

Women are multi-faceted

Another important development is the growing recognition of intersectionality in discussions about women’s issues. Intersectionality acknowledges that women experience discrimination and oppression differently based on factors such as race, class, sexuality, and ability. By taking an intersectional approach to women’s rights advocacy, we are ensuring that the needs and experiences of all women are addressed in a more inclusive and equitable manner.

Women’s plight in history has been characterized by a complex interplay of challenges and advancements. These have shaped the experiences of women throughout the ages. From ancient civilizations to modern times, women have faced discrimination, oppression, and violence. We have also demonstrated resilience, strength, and perseverance in the fight for gender equality. We should continue examining the historical context, key figures, impact, and future developments related to women’s plight in history. Only then can we gain a deeper understanding of the struggles and achievements of women and work towards a more equitable and just society for all.

The Pandemic Is Hurting Women

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It’s surprising that women are being the most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Why do I say it it’s surprising? Traditionally speaking, in times of economic crisis, the hardest-hit sectors are ones like manufacturing and construction — bands of the employment spectrum traditionally occupied more by men than women. Take the Great Recession, large numbers of jobs vanished in those areas plus financial services and durable goods, helping to earn it classification as a “mancession.”

How is this different?

The staggering employment cliff precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic has been tougher on women, and in a variety of ways.

Compared to ‘regular’ recessions, which affect men’s employment more severely than women’s employment, the employment drop related to social distancing measures has a large impact on sectors with high female employment shares.

Think about all of the schools and daycares that have been closed. Who is expected to pick up the increase in childcare needs? Mostly working mothers and it will most likely continue until we enter a new wave of “normal”.

Women are facing increased child-care responsibilities, economic uncertainty in low, unequal paying jobs and in some cases are touched by gender-based violence. This is why the snowball effect is hitting women hard and even more so in terms of our mental health.

We seem to be the most affected in terms of job lose, as our jobs are almost 2x as likely to be vulnerable to this crisis. When you take into account that women make up about 40% of global employment, they account for over 50% of overall job losses, mostly made up of the accommodation food services industries.

Enter the ‘she-cession’

If the Great Recession was dubbed the ‘man-cession’, this economic downturn where job losses are affecting women has been dubbed the ‘she-cession.’ We also can’t forget the uncertainty and mixed research around the risks of COVID-19 while pregnant, as well as the affects the virus has on newborns, toddlers and school-going children. Then of course there is concern around access to maternal health care.

The COVID-19 economic downturn has substantial implications for gender equality — both in the workplace as well as within households. Many women work part-time to have flexible scheduling, and many women who work part-time are single mothers. They are the first to be laid off, and for them any loss of income is a very big hit. Most women are in occupations that for the most part are not unionized, and they are not in the type of job where seniority means a great deal.

These are the type of jobs where there isn’t much security of employment. Will those jobs be waiting for them when they come back? Will they lose their health insurance? People talk about good jobs, but lots of women don’t work in that type of job. I think it’s the structure of employment in the U.S. that predicts the result that we see happening now. The pandemic will also help focus attention on the wage gap and what it means for the women who hold certain jobs.

With so much going on, it’s no surprise that anxiety levels and depression would likely be on the rise for women and that immediate intervention is needed.

Support the mental health of women

The COVID-19 pandemic is causing a tremendous amount of stress, fear and anxiety for many people. It’s important that when possible everyone, but especially women, have access to the mental health care resources they need to stay well during this challenging time. It’s imperative that mental health services are available, connect people with private organizations that can provide support, strengthen telemedicine resources (which replace clinic visits) and facilitate other well-being supports to help women successfully cope.

That can look like…

  • Getting back to work and safely – while removing the massive strain on women
  • Empowering women from marginalised communities, racialized groups, and those with disabilities
  • Putting an end to discrimination of women in the workplace. We cannot afford to lose skilled labour
  • Putting in place measures to ensure the pandemic does not reverse decades of progress in women’s, children’s, and adolescent’s health
  • Paying attention to gender-based differences that can be overlooked during a public health emergency
  • Increasing the visibility of female based support groups
  • Encouraging women to speak out if they are having difficulties coping and asking

Nothing will improve overnight but it’s a process we can all work through together. If there’s any silver lining it’s perhaps that the world at large, and America especially, take a good hard look at how we treat the women in our society when times are tough. The mental health impacts of the coronavirus are real, significant, growing and must be addressed to limit any additional harm.

Do you or someone you know need someone to talk for support? Help is here at the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), COVID-19 Mental Health Support, and more. Don’t wait until it’s too late, reach out now.

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