Money Musings 💭 We’re in a gendered pandemic 😷
The Coronavirus pandemic has uniquely affected women, and even more so, women of color.
Women make up 76% of our heroic US healthcare workers. That means they are now on the front lines, often balancing concerns of their own health (and the health of their families) with financial stability.
Almost 60% of people who have lost their jobs due to Coronavirus are women.
54% percent of Black women said they were laid off or furloughed or had their hours and/or pay reduced because of the pandemic ― compared with 31% of white women and 44% of Black men. Only 27% of white men said this.
More than 75% of women are primary caregivers and are also more likely to be taking care of parents and sick family members.
The additional responsibility in the home - everything from home-schooling and childcare, to the never ending supply of dirty dishes - is also falling on women. Some have argued that we are going back to 1950’s gender roles - the biggest difference being that now both parents often have full-time jobs.
I’m experiencing this in my own home and have been getting plenty of texts from friends about it too. What frustrates me the most about this shift is that before Coronavirus, I really thought Justin and I had it down pat. But in each transition, gender bias (on both our parts), comes back to challenge us and hopefully help us grow and become more aware.
Now, it’s not all bad news. If the stay at home orders help to create a new “ideal worker norm” where face time becomes less important and it’s okay (and maybe even preferred) to work remotely, that will help women (and everyone).
Some are even cautiously optimistic that the pandemic will make fatherhood more visible. Screaming interruptions and babies on laps during conference calls will normalize fathers juggling it all.
And maybe fathers will step up and take on more of the unpaid labor at home, which is “a leading cause of the gender gaps in pay and promotions at work.”
Teachers - 77% are women and most are severely underpaid - are also getting a lot of newfound appreciation and respect as parents take on homeschooling. Hopefully this leads to some major raises for these extremely important professionals!
I’d love to hear about your experience during the pandemic. Has it brought up gender inequalities in your workplace or your home? Hit reply and let me know.
MONEY MOVE OF THE WEEK
Practice some “stay at home” frugal joys. Frugal joys are free or inexpensive things that make us really happy. They are great for 1) adding joy to our lives without increasing how much we spend or 2) swapping out more expensive activities with free or inexpensive ones to save money (without losing the joy). Win, win. 🤗 In our new pandemic “normal,” many of our previous frugal joys might be off limits or not possible. I asked you to share some of your favorite “stay at home” frugal joys and here’s what you said (and how you voted on other’s ideas!). This week, I challenge you to choose one frugal joy per day. If that feels overwhelming, start with one for the week. I can’t wait to hear how it goes!
YOU GOTTA SEE THIS
Your feminist movie and TV guide. If you’re watching a bit (or a lot) more TV than usual while staying at home 🙋♀️ you might feel like you’re getting to the end of Netflix. At a loss for what to watch? We’ve got you covered. Here’s a list of the best feminist movies and where to watch them (+ a bonus list), as well as the feminist TV shows everyone woman should see in her lifetime. Happy streaming! 👊