Gender Inequality

COVID-19 lockdowns saw couples share housework and childcare more evenly – but not for long

Woman holding green bed sheet, doing chores.

Whilst they decreased during lockdown, women's share of the domestic burden increased again as restrictions eased. Image: UNSPLASH/ Volha Flaxeco

Susan Harkness
Professor of Public Policy and Director of the Centre for Poverty and Social Justice, University of Bristol
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Gender Inequality

a chart showing the changes in the distribution of women’s share of housework by couple group
A change in housework dynamics. Image: Gender division of housework during the COVID-19 pandemic: Temporary shocks or durable change?

A woman in long black top carrying cleaning products.
Although balances began to shift, the domestic burden still largely fell on woman. Image: UNSPLASH/ Kelly Sikkema
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What's the World Economic Forum doing about the gender gap?

A grandfather in blue shirt and grandchild in a garden.
Extended family networks could alleviate some of the domestic burden placed upon women in the household. Image: UNSPLASH/Alvaro Reyes
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Gender InequalityCOVID-19
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