As the world staggers into the eighth month of the coronavirus global pandemic, the economic effects have reverberated around the world. Shipping container prices have skyrocketed, Amazon has posted record profits, and millions remain out of work. Here in the U.S., we are seeing a serious uptick in positive cases, and more importantly, hospitalizations. This may very well lead to renewed lockdowns, with catastrophic consequences. And, as we have been pointing out for months now, mothers are bearing the brunt of this with many school systems going virtual and childcare facilities operating at greatly reduced capacity, if at all.
This reduction in childcare is affecting mothers of all income brackets, and as NPR reports, the most successful women, even, are feeling the effects. Mothers remain the parent more likely to shore the care gap created by school closures and are more likely to step back from their careers to do so. According to the article, in September, women dropped out of the workforce at a rate four times higher than men.
Fueling this phenomenon is the long-standing and pervasive gender wage gap. When faced with pulling one parent out of the workforce for care duties, the simple calculus of men being paid more than women forces the issue. This may lead to as much as $64.5 billion in lost wages and economic activity per year, notes a new report from the Center for American Progress. And for those who do remain in the workforce, they often have to burn the candle at both ends, particularly those who are salaried rather than hourly workers. Thus, women may still work the same number, or more hours a week for pay, while having to pick up significantly more childcare duties.
Unfortunately, there has been little movement on universal childcare. Even the Biden administration’s transition team has only offered solutions which rely on subsidizing low-wage domestic and care support, rather than extending childcare to everyone as a basic right.
