GWFP-WorkFromHome-SPRF-Website-2021

Gendering Work from Home: An Analysis of the Visible and Invisible Women Workforce in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author: Avishi Gupta

Table of Contents

• Introduction

• Questioning Paradigms: Perception of Space, GDP, and Census

• Formal Work Sector: Women, Virus, and Woes

• Informal Work Sector: Women, Virus, and Woes

• Way Forward

• Bibliography

Page 1: Title and Author

• Title: Gendering Work from Home: An Analysis of the Visible and Invisible Women Workforce in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic

• Author: Avishi Gupta

Page 2: Introduction to the Issues

• The concept of remote work emerged during the pandemic as a new normal.

• Work-from-home has historical roots in gender dynamics and domestic responsibilities.

• The view of home as a workplace predates the pandemic, driven by patriarchal norms.

Page 3: Gendered Perspectives of Work

• Women face distinct employment realities based on formal vs. informal sectors, influenced by race, caste, class.

• Unpaid labor: Women are predominant in unpaid family work (60%) and domestic work (98%).

• Paid vs. unpaid work: A stark differentiation exists, worsened by pandemic-induced shifts.

Page 4: Questioning Paradigms

Perception of Space

• Law and policies consider home as personal—exclusion of this space in labor discussions.

• Feminist critique: Personal is political; absence of regulation over home labor leads to exploitation.

• Women’s unpaid care work vital for societal economy, often overlooked.

Definition of Work

• National Census includes unpaid farm and family enterprise labor, but focuses on market-oriented definitions.

• Women’s effective roles are underestimated in GDP and census data, obscuring reality of economic contributions.

Page 5: Economic Impacts on Women

• Defining Worker: Census definitions favor market-driven economies, neglecting the informal and unwaged contributions of women.

• Snapshot of female employment trends through census data (1981-2011).

• Huge impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: 24.4% dip in GDP with increased poverty levels.

Page 6: The Formal Work Sector

Challenges Faced

• Pandemic exacerbated gender disparities in health and socio-economic realms.

• Health crisis linked closely with women who represent 70% of healthcare workers.

• Blurred boundaries: Increased domestic responsibilities disrupt women’s formal employment.

• Statistics show significant job loss among women versus men post-lockdown.

• Direct correlation of pandemic responsibilities with increased domestic violence.

Legislative Gaps

• Existing policies inadequately address domestic violence issues intertwined with remote work.

• Expansion of legal protections is necessary to cover workplace harassment in non-traditional workspaces.

Page 7: Responses to the Crisis

• Government initiatives like PMJDY failed to reach many women due to lack of accounts, and relief is minimal at Rs. 500/month.

• Women in informal work sectors significantly impacted: 60% income loss, with many losing jobs outright.

Page 8: The Informal Work Sector

Suppressed Economic Security

• Women dominate informal sectors (80% in domestic roles); faced immediate job loss due to stigma and health concerns.

• Caste discrimination worsened employment situations for sanitation workers during the pandemic.

Importance of Data

• Underrepresentation in official data leads to neglect of women's economic contributions.

• Call for policies to include informal and unpaid labor in national assessments.

Page 9: Economic Contributions Pre and Post-Pandemic

• Problems of remittances impacted household consumption; reliance on women increased during economic downturns.

• Women's workdays under MGNREGS declined amid growing domestic responsibilities.

Page 10: Way Forward

Steps Towards Equity

• The need for robust data that reflects women's multifaceted roles in the economy.

• Legislative reforms required to safeguard women's employment and address domestic labor issues.

• Highlighting the importance of addressing gender inequality in disaster response efforts.

Empowerment Initiatives

• Emphasis on promoting women's roles in diverse economic zones, especially in larger industries.

• Advocacy for a national policy focused on the welfare of domestic workers, securing their rights and protections.

Page 12: Bibliography

• Comprehensive list of referenced works highlighting issues associated with women and work in the context of the pandemic.