Topic: This week Hochschild introduces proposes that gendered division of labor is a mechanism for gender inequality in that it separates the sexes into two classes: the supported and those who provide the support. After reflecting on the rest of Hochschild’s work and the materials provided on gender and covid-19, write about the following: 1) Explain the impacts that COVID-19 has had on the gendered division of labor and women’s ability to participate in paid work (hint: the third shift). Then, explain the relationship between the third shift and the anticipated impacts to gender equality/poverty rates. 3) Lastly, what kinds of policy responses do you think would be effective in mitigating the gendered impacts of covid?
Readings:
UN 2020 “Press Release: Covid-19 will Widen Poverty Gap Between Women and Men,”
https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2020/8/press-release-covid-19-will-widen-poverty-gap-between-women-and-men
UN “Gender Equality in the Wake of COVID-19”
UN Interactive Explainer – Gendered impacts of COVID-19
https://interactive.unwomen.org/multimedia/explainer/covid19/en/index.htmlgclid=Cj0KCQjwnoqLBhD4ARIsAL5JedLRy2jWPm30Cy7yMKEPJfz6coNlQIqWVBnqlNM1vesFObPd1e0L33kaAlsiEALw_wcB
