MenEngage Africa Newsletter 2020/2

During the Covid-19 pandemic campaigns should not only address the need to tackle the virus, but they must also promote messages against gender-based violence. We must not be blind to the gendered impact of the coronavirus and we all have a responsibility to mitigate this!

There is no doubt at all that the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the world in a way that places huge struggles on families, economies, health, businesses, and so on. And as the world marks May Day, otherwise known as Workers’ Day or Labour Day on the 1st of May, the crisis also turns out to be a very revealing one, especially concerning the roles, challenges and experiences of women as well as what is expected of them.

Many obstacles, including cultural, economic and political factors hinder women from occupying senior positions in Kenya. These are supported by gender stereotyping and patriarchal structural norms that continue to be stacked high up against women in society. But in spite of the challenges that exist, some progress has been made.

Gender differences still persist across many aspects in the labour market in Tanzania: Women are still experiencing different forms of inequalities and violence such as sexual harassment, unpaid work, and inequality in decision-making and management roles.

As we celebrate Workers’ Day, governments and the private sector across the continent must prioritise closing the gender wage gap and to effectively tackle the structural barriers women face in the economic space.

Every sector of society has a role to prevent the further repression of women and girls during this Coronavirus crisis. Here are some ways in which the Coronavirus pandemic presents as a gender and equity issue – and what we can do to prevent and stop the impacts.