The world is facing a global health crisis that is having diverse and dramatic effects on people. COVID-19 has deepened existing inequalities, exposed systemic flaws and amplified the impact of the pandemic. The multi-layered impacts of COVID-19 have been disproportionately severe for women and girls.
Physical distancing and stay-at-home orders have had a major impact on all aspects of women’s lives. 70% 70% of women work in the informal economy, with low job security, income and savings. With soaring unemployment and limited access to social security, women are less able to absorb economic shocks and are at increased risk of falling into poverty. Added to this, unpaid care work has skyrocketed due to school closures and increased care needs for family members at home. Women are shouldering the burden of domestic responsibilities and stretching their hands. With competing demands of home and work, women’s jobs are further put at risk due to cuts (without access to paid sick leave) and layoffs. Single-parent and female-headed households face enormous difficulties in providing for themselves and their families.
Loss of economic independence and control over finances binds women to relationships. experience exploitation and abuseRestrictions on movement, limited decision-making capacity, and reduced social bargaining power further threaten children’s safety and autonomy within the family. Family members may exercise power through deliberate and irresponsible tactics, such as constantly pointing out a child’s shortcomings, belittling their efforts, denying them access to jointly owned money, or threatening harm. Ignored strategies Involved They withhold interaction, ignore their own feelings, and tell women they are inferior.
Emotional abuse In relationships, it is often a precursor to physical and sexual violence: depriving a partner of basic needs, harming them, forcing them to have sex, manipulating them, guilt-tripping them, making unsightly remarks about their sexuality or their body. COVID-19 presents a scenario of an increase in family abuse, intimate partner violence and larger issues. Reporting Complexity Seek help. In situations where community support is reduced, people are cut off from social networks, and are unable to seek temporary shelter, “Outdoor space” or have access to “Private space”Women are experiencing chronic pain.
Women caught in a vicious cycle of tension, power and control are more likely to suffer from a range of mental health problems, including depression, anxiety and trauma. Stigma and lack of social support (and lack of access to support) often lead them to internalise the abuse and turn their anger, humiliation and fear onto themselves, exacerbating feelings of worthlessness and powerlessness. This can also lead to the formation of trauma bonds: women who are abused by a partner who is also affectionate come to associate love with abuse; they often rationalise, justify or downplay the abuse and are less likely to report it.
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For those already dealing with these issues, symptoms of mental illness may worsen. Symptoms may include, but are not limited to, negative self-perception, persistent low/anxious/empty/unsettled mood, inability to experience pleasure, decreased attention/memory, changes in appetite or sleep, fatigue, physical pain, thoughts of self-harm or suicide. (If you have any of these concerns, please seek support from a mental health professional.)
During the pandemic, health resources are often diverted from regular health services, leaving women unable to access sexual, reproductive and maternal health services. assignment Limited access to contraception, safe abortion and medication further exacerbates isolation, violence, shame and low self-esteem, increasing risks to women’s health and well-being. Exploitation and abuse leave visible and invisible scars that last a lifetime for women.
As we find ourselves in the midst of this historic turning point, our collective response must be equally historic and urgent. spine Community members play a key role in community recovery as they support families, households and communities in difficult times. They need to be included and represented in economic planning, policy decisions and emergency response plans.
Individuals and communities need to be sensitized about the impact of COVID-19 on women and work towards eradicating long-standing inequalities. Governments need to immediately put plans in place and coordinate efforts between local authorities, civil society organizations and mental health organizations to ensure women’s safety. This is not just about fighting inequalities but building a more resilient and just world for the benefit of all.
The strategy is as follows:
- Designate domestic violence shelters as essential services and increase resources for shelters and frontline response groups.
- Designate safe places (e.g., grocery stores, pharmacies) where abuse can be reported anonymously
- Moving services online and building social networks for survivors
- Strengthening awareness and advocacy campaigns
- Provide and expand comprehensive social protection for caregivers to mitigate the effects of unpaid care work overload (e.g. providing paid family and sick leave, flexible working hours, etc.).
- Prioritize sexual and reproductive health services and legal aid
Read also: Coronavirus: Kashmir to go under lockdown again
If you are being abused:
- Talk to someone you trust about your concerns
- Seeking psychological support
- Contact us 24 hours a day, 365 days a year Women’s Helpline Number
Leah Matthews is a Mental Health Researcher working with an NGO called Sangath in New Delhi. She also works as a Counselling Psychologist and works to create a safe space where people can express their needs, wants and concerns. Outside work, she enjoys playing sports, reading and journaling.
Featured Image Source: Bloomberg
