For the workers who are risking their lives to keep the country safe and fed, life during the pandemic has become even more challenging. Essential workers, especially women, are balancing the responsibilities of their profession, family, and more. And in a society that has made clear it does not value them, these workers are left to advocate for themselves on top of it all.
Women make up 75% of all essential workers and close to 90% of registered nurses — illustrating the unequal impact of this public health crisis. Women’s labor has been historically undervalued and continues to be even as the majority of essential jobs are held by women.
A just recovery from this pandemic requires that we support women and families who’ve been impacted first and worst. That’s why we are continuing our COVID-19 educational webinar series with a discussion this week on the disparate impacts of COVID-19 and the ensuing economic recession on women, how the work of women has been undervalued even prior to the pandemic, and what feminist action can be taken now to rebuild this country while achieving gender and labor equity.
Essential workers have three shifts in their day: a shift at work, a shift at home, and a shift of political advocacy speaking up for themselves and their communities in this pivotal period of our history. And women are bearing the brunt of it.
Many of these women have a long shift at work helping to keep shelves stocked, meals prepped, and patients alive, while still holding most of the child care and domestic responsibilities at home — all while fearing unemployment, losing their health care, and contracting COVID.
The government and employers have failed to provide the support in and out of the workplace that women need. We must rise up, join together, and continue to fight for protections needed for women to provide for their families and stay healthy though this pandemic.
Balancing your work, family, and community responsibilities is difficult. We hope to give helpful historical context for our current reality and frame the fight ahead to protect all workers and all women.
In solidarity,
National Nurses United
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