COVID-19 Gender Matrix

What’s the impact of COVID-19 and related policies on women in the UK? Read our briefing based on interviews with over 60 women Here

The matrix below list examples of the intersectional impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak and response. To see further examples click on the intersecting domains. The matrix will be updated regularly. If there are examples you think should be included please email gender_covid@sfu.ca

United Kingdom

Access to Resources

 Labour/Roles Norms/Beliefs Power  Institutions/ Laws
Risk BAME pregnant women more likely to be hospitalized than whites BAME nurses less likely to have access to appropriate PPE Deaths of black people three times higher than white people Class, ethnic, gender, educational, and geographical divide to grow without government action Lockdown may see end to UK HIV transmission
Illness/ Treatment Greatest pregnancy risk may be premature birth 33% of NHS deaths are nurses Half of pregnant women in hospital with COVID-19 are Black, Asian, and minority ethnic More than 20,000 direct and indirect care home deaths in England and Wales Vulnerable people may die alone due to care home closures
Health Systems/Services Women in Northern Ireland granted access to early abortions Healthcare workers experiencing high levels of stress Mothers with children under 11 report high levels of anxiety Doulas blocked from attending births Prostate cancer pateints able to receive treatment at home
Social Impacts Increased local community activity during lockdown 4.5 million new carers due to COVID-19 Secretary of Health accused of tone policing MP Court closures impact domestic and child abuse cases Minimum Income Requirement keeps low-paid  migrant workers separated from families
Economic Impacts Elderly and vulnerable people without smartphones will be excluded from contact training Paid and unpaid carers facing poverty 1 in 4 pregnant women have faced discrimination at work Pregnant women at risk of dismissal for refusing to work in unsafe conditions Lack of gender pay gap reporting risks accurate assessment of women's position in the workforce
Security Impacts 30% of girls aged 14-21 have trouble accessing or affording sanitary products Coronavirus reporters subject to racist attacks Black people fined more than whites under coronavirus laws Complex needs of BAME women excluded from domestic violence conversations Parliament shuts but needs to ensure scrutiny of heightened powers

Methodology

The COVID-19 gender matrix aims to provide a rapid snapshot of gendered and intersectional impacts of the outbreak and response. The UK matrix above includes findings from searches conducted between March 15 and June 15 2020. Searches of 8 UK national newspapers were conducted using key words in LexisNexis, and through targeted searches of government and organizational websites. We then reviewed results, selecting those that presented concrete examples of the impacts of COVID-19 (as opposed to commentaries or suppositions). Each selected example was then coded based on a horizontal and vertical category in the matrix. Where more than one example was found per category intersection, we selected the most notable for the front facing matrix, listing the others in linked pages. Decisions regarding coding and which examples to list in the front facing matrix were discussed with the team to achieve consensus.

We recognize that the matrix is not a complete picture, but a rapid snapshot, and that there is substantial room for bias to shape its presentation. If you see particular gaps or omissions in the matrix please let us know. This is a dynamic process and we would appreciate the feedback. Please email gender.covid@lse.ac.uk