Disproportionate Negative Impact of COVID-19 on Women
Some research studies have shown that working mothers have been affected negatively by COVID-19 when it comes to psychological well-being, family dynamics redefinition, and negative emotional experiences, in which they have adopted disproportionate and additional care burdens. Some scholars have even argued that the pandemic has emphasized an increase in the gender gap within domestic labor, and at the same time, it has undermined career development for working mothers (Clark et al., 1353). Do you need help with your assignment ? Contact us at eminencepapers.com.
A social psychologist would understand that COVID-19 has affected working women’s emotional health, especially working mothers. They tend to believe that working mothers have experienced more negative emotions than their male counterparts or even single working women. A research study found that women in Ireland experienced high levels of isolation, disconnectedness, pressure, guilt, and stress, especially at the beginning of the lockdown (Clark et al., 1356). An interviewee stated that her work was hands-on, and she was expected to handle it while working from home as the new regulations stipulated. She was also supposed to be online for 8 hours teaching and, at the same time, doing laundry, preparing lunch, and not taking lunch breaks all in the same room (p.1357). This showed that she was under much pressure compared to women who did not have children to look after and cook for.
According to Mukhtar (par.2), human beings struggle daily to uphold a psychological structure and have a predictability continuity. Mukhtar adds that humans yearn for the internal regulation that consistency and continuity give them. With this, humans endeavor to know what will happen in the future. A working mother forced to work from home because of COVID-19 regulations tends not to find time for meditation, introspection, or psychological growth because their mind is constantly busy handling children, work, and chores and thinking of how stressful the situation is.
References
Clark, Serena, et al. “You’re a teacher, you’re a mother, you’re a worker”: Gender inequality during COVID‐19 in Ireland.” Gender, Work & Organization 28.4 (2021): 1352-1362.
Mukhtar, Sonia. “Feminism and gendered impact of COVID‐19: Perspective of a counselling psychologist.” Gender, Work & Organization 27.5 (2020): 827-832.
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Question
As NPR and other news sources have reported, the COVID-19 Pandemic has had a disproportionately negative impact on women, especially working mothers. Draw on some ideas and concepts from the Social Structure and Personality research tradition to analyze and make sense of this problem.
In other words, how would a social psychologist from the Social Structure and Personality tradition understand what has happened?