Webinar on Covid-19, the Flexibility Stigma, and Gender Equality

Abstract

The purpose of the webinar was to raise awareness about the impacts of Covid-19 on gender. Covid-19 has highlighted the different realities that exist in our society for women and men. The idea to organize such webinar was to put forward ideas for policymakers to ensure that the gender perspective is not forgotten when it comes to making important decisions during and after the pandemic that will affect the lives of every citizen. The webinar majorly focused on frontline workers, gender impacts on health, unpaid care and housework, gender-based violence. During the pandemic, homeless women and men are more vulnerable as they are living in refugee camps, temporary settlement, as a result of which they are more prone to the diseases. Physical distancing and permanent handwashing are simply impossible. Migrant women and men not living in camps are also vulnerable. They can face barriers to accessing healthcare, such as financial costs, legal restrictions and lack of awareness of available services. Pregnant refugees and migrants face a higher maternal mortality rate than non-migrant women, which may be exacerbated when healthcare services are stretched due to the Covid-19 pandemic. With policy intervention, It is important to identify which groups are at higher risk of discrimination and social exclusion and to propose targeted measures to mitigate these risks. To identify and understand intersecting discrimination, data and research with an intersectional perspective need to be strengthened. This will enable the development of policies and legislation that adequately address these inequalities.