Ways you can support women in need through the COVID-19 pandemic

The whole world has been hit hard by the pandemic. After reading research and articles like this one from WBG, we’ve been saddened but not surprised to see the disproportionate social and economic impact that the pandemic is having on women and girls across the UK and worldwide.

“Women are doing more unpaid work, at high risk of losing their job and are more likely to be pushed further into poverty as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.” - WBG

It often feels to me like women are absent among those leading us through the crisis. We wanted to take time to share ways you can support key organisations doing vital work during this period. If you’d like to add some recommendations please drop us a note in the comments. 

“Across every sphere, from health to the economy, security to social protection, the impacts of COVID-19 are exacerbated for women and girls simply by virtue of their sex.” - UN 

The economic impact of coronavirus on women: 

Women are more likely than men to be in insecure zero hours contracts or low paid work, while furlough schemes have helped to provide some stability, a drop in already low wages puts pressure on the most vulnerable people in our communities. New research from Cambridge University shows that women in the UK are 4% more likely to have lost their job than men. When you take into account that the majority of unpaid care work falls on women in or communities too the pressure compounds. As women take on greater care demands at home they are also faced with greater uncertainty as their jobs are also disproportionately affected by cutbacks. The UN reports the global gender pay gap stuck at 16% with women paid up to 35% less than men in some countries. It’s going to take some work to limit the deepening of existing inequalities for women and girls across the world. So how can we support women during this crisis? 

A few ways you can support: 

  • Young women are economically vulnerable and the impact of the coronavirus crisis is making it even harder for many to pay for electricity or to feed their children. Support the Young Women's Trust emergency campaign for women in crisis here: youngwomenstrust.org/emergency-fund

  • Support local food banks like Emmeline’s Pantry who have reported a 75% increase in client numbers during the outbreak. A charity run by women for women in need, Emmeline’s Pantry helps women and their families access the things they need most, including food, toiletries, baby equipment and clothes.

  • Support women by choosing where you can to buy from local, women-run businesses. (pop want to add some of our faves here? Small businesses rely on reviews so take time out of your day to support your favourite business women by sending word of encouragement and 5 star reviews!

Gender-based violence is on the rise:

“Nearly one in five women worldwide has experienced violence in the past year.  Many of these women are now trapped at home with their abusers, struggling to access services that are suffering from cuts and restrictions.” UN

Before the pandemic it was estimated that one in three women will experience violence during their lifetimes - now as lockdown continues across the world many of these women are trapped in their homes with those abusers. 

An initial survivor survey carried out by Women’s Aid in April 2020, confirmed that COVID-19 had impacted on the experiences of women experiencing domestic abuse in the UK. 67.4% of survivors who are currently experiencing abuse told Women’s Aid that it had gotten worse since the COVID-19 outbreak. 

In France, reports of domestic violence have increased by 30% since the lockdown on 17th March - these rises have been reported in countries including Canada, America, Spain and Singapore. 

A few ways you can support: 

  • Start campaigning with Women’s Aid, you can get a list of current campaigns and ways to support here or donate here. 

  • Educate yourself on violence against women, learn the fact and believe survivors. Charities like End Violence Against Women have endless resources that you can use to learn and share with others.

  • If you’re able there’s also a lots of free courses you can use to educate yourself on key issues like Understanding violence against women and girls and Gender Equality in Emergencies.

  • We Can’t Consent To This are campaigning to end the rough sex defence and the normalisation of violence against women, read the women’s stories help them to change the law. 

Access to contraception, abortion and other sexual and reproductive healthcare

Everyone should have access to effective contraception during the COVID-19 pandemic to help avoid unplanned pregnancies and have timely access to emergency contraception and abortion services if they need them.This guide from the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH), was put together to provide clear advice and support during the pandemic. 

Coronavirus is making it harder for people to access contraceptives. In the US, many young women access sexual health services on college campuses, the closure of these vital services present an access issue. More worrying still, in places like Ohio and Texas, state legislatures have moved quickly to declare abortion services as “non-essential.”

In the US calls have been made by key Aids like John Barsa to remove sexual health reference’s in the UN COVID-19 response. This dangerous attack on essential health services needs to be addressed for the health of women worldwide.

“No matter what the US government says, abortion is a fundamental human right and reproductive care is always essential, including during a pandemic. At a time when countless lives are at risk, the US has yet again decided to put its efforts into restricting healthcare instead of expanding it.” - Akila Radhakrishnan, president of the Global Justice Centre

A few ways you can support: 

  • In the UK organisations like BPAS are supporting women across the UK including Northern Ireland by launching a service to supply abortion pills to women in Northern Ireland by post.

  • In the US, the Yellowhammer Fund is a 501(c)3 abortion fund and reproductive justice organisation serving Alabama and the Deep South. You can support organisations like this by signing up to their newsletters, attending online events and donating.

  • You can also support by reading up and help dispel myths around abortion like access to care in NI is possible without travel to England or the fact that abortion is still legal in Alabama and Georgia. Great organisations like Shout Your Abortion share stories and offer ways to take action.

Women on the frontline

Frontline key workers across the world are working hard to tackle the coronavirus pandemic and putting themselves at risk of contracting the virus. In Invisible Women, previously featured on The Yes List, Caroline Criado-Perez addresses PPE not being designed for women and putting our healthcare workers at risk. She has been inundated by messages from women who can’t find protective equipment to fit them.

“Respiratory protective equipment is designed for a male face, and if it doesn’t fit it won’t protect,” she said. “Because of a dearth of sex disaggregated data we don’t know how many women are affected, but I am hearing on a daily basis from women in the NHS who say they can’t get their masks to fit.” - Caroline Criado Perez in an interview with the Guardian. 

Special care and attention needs to be given to the physical and mental health needs of our frontline workers. Charities like Mind, Samaritans, Shout, Hospice UK and The Royal Foundation have come together to launch “Our Frontline” which supports emergency services and key workers who are putting their mental health under pressure during the outbreak. 

You can support this initiative by donating directly at any of these links:

You can also support the #ValueCare campaign from the Fawcett Society by sharing your story, writing to your MP or donating here: fawcettsociety.org.uk/valuing-the-care-sector 

Thank you!

Thank you to the amazing teams at each and everyone of these amazing organisations. Thank you to the NHS and key workers keeping us safe and healthy. And thanks to you for reading and supporting the work of these incredible women. It’s so important that we support women by reading, watching, listening and sharing their stories.

We’ll see you again soon 

P+J 


Jess Dochertycovid 19, coronavirus, take action, supportComment