Intersectionality and Responses to Covid-19

Abstract

There is a small but growing body of literature that discusses the benefits, challenges and opportunities of intersectional responses to the socioeconomic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. There is a strong body of evidence pointing to the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 borne by women, who have suffered record job losses, been expected to take on even greater unpaid care burdens and home schooling responsibilities, and faced a “shadow pandemic” of violence against women and girls. However, gender inequalities cannot be discussed in isolation from other inequalities. Emerging literature stresses the importance of a Covid-19 recovery plan that addresses how gender intersects with class, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, geography, immigration status and religion or belief, and other factors such as employment, housing (and homelessness) and environmental and political stressors.