{"id":61554,"date":"2021-12-16T11:15:40","date_gmt":"2021-12-16T11:15:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/?p=61554"},"modified":"2021-12-16T11:57:18","modified_gmt":"2021-12-16T11:57:18","slug":"against-the-odds-why-covid-19-could-be-one-giant-leap-backwards-for-gender-equality-in-wales","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/2021\/12\/16\/against-the-odds-why-covid-19-could-be-one-giant-leap-backwards-for-gender-equality-in-wales\/","title":{"rendered":"Against the odds: Why Covid-19 could be one giant leap backwards for gender equality in Wales"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Working from home has kept the economy alive during the pandemic, but officials worry about the impact on women\u2019s positions within the workplace<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1311-1024x512.jpg\" alt=\"A child sits on the floor facing her mother who is sat working at a desk \" class=\"wp-image-61575\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1311-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1311-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1311-770x385.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1311-1366x683.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1311-585x293.jpg 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1311-1170x585.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1311-293x147.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1311-1400x700.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1311.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1311-1024x512.jpg\" alt=\"A child sits on the floor facing her mother who is sat working at a desk \" class=\"wp-image-61575\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1311-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1311-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1311-770x385.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1311-1366x683.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1311-585x293.jpg 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1311-1170x585.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1311-293x147.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1311-1400x700.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1311.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>Many women have struggled finding the balance between motherhood and work during the pandemic. Image credit: Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\"><span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-purple-color\">B<\/span>efore the pandemic, the average workday was between seven and eight hours. When lockdown hit, workers were forced to <a href=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/2021\/03\/24\/welsh-coworking-about-to-boom\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">stay at home<\/a>. In theory, this meant working hours would decrease; with no commute, workers could do what they needed to do and log off as soon as they could.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But for working mothers, this was never the case. When lockdown ruled out external childcare the burden of responsibility fell to them, meaning their workday nearly doubled in length.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To aid economic recovery, the Welsh Government issued cautious advice to go back into work this autumn. But just because the economy is recovering, it doesn&#8217;t mean that working mothers are. In fact, for women with caregiving responsibilities, their position within the workplace remains uncertain causing many to ask the question: are women who work from home being left behind?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a June 2021 <a href=\"https:\/\/chwaraeteg.com\/news\/one-big-juggling-act-womens-experiences-of-lockdown\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">survey<\/a> conducted by<a href=\"https:\/\/chwaraeteg.com\/\"> <\/a>Welsh gender equality charity <a href=\"https:\/\/chwaraeteg.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Chwarae Teg<\/a>, it concluded that lockdown forced more traditional roles upon women within the home, forcing them to juggle work and childcare commitments.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1380-1024x512.jpg\" alt=\"A woman sweats as she tries to balance a pile of boxes in her hands. This boxout shows a list of things women had to juggle through lockdown\" class=\"wp-image-62047\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1380-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1380-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1380-770x385.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1380-1366x683.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1380-585x293.jpg 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1380-1170x585.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1380-293x147.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1380-1400x700.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1380.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1380-1024x512.jpg\" alt=\"A woman sweats as she tries to balance a pile of boxes in her hands. This boxout shows a list of things women had to juggle through lockdown\" class=\"wp-image-62047\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1380-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1380-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1380-770x385.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1380-1366x683.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1380-585x293.jpg 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1380-1170x585.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1380-293x147.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1380-1400x700.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1380.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p>Cat Charlton, a mother of two and managing director of a self-assisted publishing company, struggled to keep control of her workload when freedoms limited external childcare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy only option was to work in the evenings as my husband had to prioritise his job. This meant incredibly long days and impacted negatively on my mental health and that of my husband,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Living in Cwmbran, the 31-year-old explained that if her job hadn\u2019t offered flexibility, things would have been impossible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-purple-color\">Burden to bear<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>With the threat of the Omicron variant looming, society\u2019s casual acceptance of a childcare system relying heavily on informal, unpaid care often delivered by women is worrying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Among the 1,000 respondents to Chwarae Teg\u2019s survey, 72% of working mothers worked fewer hours and cut their earnings due to a lack of childcare. Despite both partners having the same level jobs, it also found the overwhelming assumption that women would take on childcare responsibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy partner and I have similar level jobs and earn the same, but his work and meetings seem to have taken priority which causes resentment and arguments,\u201d admitted a survey respondent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-purple-color\">My only option was to work in the evenings as my husband had to prioritise his job<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Due to the high level of Covid-19 cases forcing school classes to quarantine, childcare duties are still a burden to bear for Cat. She hopes there will be more put in place to safeguard women\u2019s careers if Wales enters another lockdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cA lot of mothers only go back into the workplace when they know they have time for a job as well. If this is taken away from them, it proves incredibly taxing,\u201d she admits.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a time where recovery is at the forefront, building back a fairer, more equal society has never been so important for gender equality in Wales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe class=\"zeen-lazy-load-base zeen-lazy-load\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"about:blank\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yyIEJdoCfAw\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><noscript><iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yyIEJdoCfAw\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/noscript>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-purple-color\">Finding the balance<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Tomos Evans, Chwarae Teg\u2019s policy &amp; public affairs partner, recognises the importance of this challenge. Explaining that the gender pay gap is expected to get worse this year, he says, \u201cA lot of policy and decision makers talk as if the pandemic has happened, but we still won\u2019t see the impacts for a very long time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Working with members of the Senedd, Tomos often reminds officials that Covid-19 guidance compels women to stay at home even after restrictions are lifted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf we don\u2019t deal with the consequences of the pandemic in an equitable way, we\u2019re going to find ourselves reinforcing many of the longstanding issues around women\u2019s roles in the home in particular,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1314-1-1024x512.jpg\" alt=\"A child hugs her mother who is sat at a desk\" class=\"wp-image-61970\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1314-1-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1314-1-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1314-1-770x385.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1314-1-1366x683.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1314-1-585x293.jpg 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1314-1-1170x585.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1314-1-293x147.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1314-1-1400x700.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1314-1.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1314-1-1024x512.jpg\" alt=\"A child hugs her mother who is sat at a desk\" class=\"wp-image-61970\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1314-1-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1314-1-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1314-1-770x385.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1314-1-1366x683.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1314-1-585x293.jpg 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1314-1-1170x585.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1314-1-293x147.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1314-1-1400x700.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/IMG_1314-1.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>Being torn between work and motherhood often leaves women feeling tied to their homes. Image credit: Unsplash <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-purple-color\">Against the odds<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>The<strong> <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ons.gov.uk\/peoplepopulationandcommunity\/healthandsocialcare\/conditionsanddiseases\/articles\/coronaviruscovid19latestinsights\/work#homeworking\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">office for national statistics <\/a>found around two-thirds (67%) of working adults in Great Britain travelled to work between 3 and 14 November 2021.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, <a href=\"https:\/\/gov.wales\/attendance-pupils-maintained-schools-6-september-19-november-2021\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Welsh Government data<\/a> showed that on 12 November, 3,877 primary age children were off for a known Covid related reason. This figure nearly doubled on 29 November.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n\n\n\n<iframe class=\"zeen-lazy-load-base zeen-lazy-load\" src=\"about:blank\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/rmxJK\/3\/\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"737\" height=\"407\"><\/iframe><noscript><iframe src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/rmxJK\/3\/\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"737\" height=\"407\"><\/iframe><\/noscript>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p>In a time where more people are going back into work, Cardiff-born Tomos believes that political awareness is key for women to get back on equal footing in the workplace. He says, \u201cAlthough we think if working women are to progress we need to change cultural norms, working from home isn\u2019t necessarily a silver bullet. It cannot be a one size fits all thing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moving forward, he believes a hybrid model of open, agile working may be the best solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-purple-color\">Genderblind<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>For these Welsh women, the effects of the pandemic will be felt long after the final dose of the vaccine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite women being severely impacted by the pandemic, <a href=\"https:\/\/chwaraeteg.com\/news\/one-big-juggling-act-womens-experiences-of-lockdown\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Chwarae Teg<\/a> reported that UK government policies were repeatedly skewed towards men by ignoring the caring responsibilities faced by women. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere must be a change of mindset and Welsh Government must lead by example,\u201d the survey concluded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In response, a Welsh Government spokesperson said, \u201cWhile childcare services were restricted in the immediate response, our <a href=\"https:\/\/gov.wales\/advancing-gender-equality-action-plan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">advancing gender equality in Wales<\/a> plan sets out the practical steps needed to advance equality for women and girls.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For working mothers, these plans can\u2019t come soon enough. Without the aid of officials, a genderblind reliance on women at their working limit could become a pandemic in itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, while we continue to see the effects of Covid-19 develop, work begins for those safeguarding working women. Then, and only then, can the workday finally return to normal hours, with the needs of caregivers &#8211; both men and women &#8211; being fairly accounted for.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Working from home has kept the economy alive during the pandemic, but officials worry about the impact on women\u2019s positions within the workplace<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":757,"featured_media":61575,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7087,36],"tags":[7587,7584,7472,7583,7586],"coauthors":[7361],"class_list":["post-61554","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-long-reads","category-no-logo","tag-caregivers","tag-genderinequality","tag-pandemicimpact","tag-workingfromhome","tag-workingmothers"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Home working could be a giant leap back for gender equality in Wales<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Home working has kept the economy alive during the pandemic, but officials worry 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