It’s Still a “Shecession”
The coronavirus is having a disproportionate impact on women, particularly when it comes to the economy. When I wrote to you in May, I cited a New York Times report that women accounted for 55 percent of the 20.5 million jobs lost in April, an article that quoted C. Nicole Mason, president and chief executive of the Institute for Women’s Policy Research as saying, “we should go ahead and call this a ‘shecession.’”
As this article makes clear, the “shecession” is far from over. Despite record job gains in June, research from the National Women’s Law Center shows that last month’s unemployment rate for women is 1.3 times higher than the highest unemployment rate women faced during the Great Recession.
For more on the economic impact of COVID-19 on women, you can watch a recording of this online event from the Atlantic Council. And the Economic Policy Institute has assembled a toolkit with research-based analysis of the impact of coronavirus on workers and the economy. One contributor suggests that “Black women are the core of the nation’s economy, holding the front-line jobs and running small businesses…if they are elevated through policy… the economy at-large will benefit. “
I also want to share this video about the legal and “traditional” roots of racial inequity. As the friend who sent this to me wrote, “The pandemic and recent disclosures of police brutality put in high relief the call to action for systemic reform.”
And finally, here’s a video of women leaders from around the world spotlighting their unique perspective on how to meet the human crisis of COVID-19.
Since March, we’ve been locked down, socially distanced, cut off from co-workers, and dealing with hardships, loss, and challenges that we could never have imagined a year ago. But I’m proud of how our community has held together, stayed true to our values and principles, and helped each other through these difficult times. So, until next week, stay strong, stay focused, and stay safe.