SOUND OFF: Women left behind by NDP’s lack of action
ONE YEAR INTO THE PANDEMIC, we are now in the thick of a “shecession” where women have been bearing the brunt of this crisis on many levels both at home and at work.
In the legislature this week, elected members across party lines celebrated International Women’s Day by recognizing women’s contributions and the challenges they face. Inequalities between men and women are still common at the best of times but this has now been exacerbated by the pandemic.
For one, women tend to take on more of the caregiving duties at home. This can include caring for children, home-schooling and running errands for immunocompromised or elderly parents.
For another, as women make up the majority of the workforce in sectors hard-hit by the pandemic such as hospitality, tourism and retail, they are suffering from a disproportionate share of job losses. For example, the hotel industry — where women make up about 60 per cent of the workforce — has seen 32,000 employees laid off.