International Women’s Day is a day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. However, it is also important to recognize the challenges that women face, particularly those related to caregiving. Women continue to be the primary caregivers in families, providing unpaid care for parents and other family members. This often leads to financial insecurity and health problems, and the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these challenges.
Supporting Women Caregivers: Addressing Challenges and Promoting Equity
The majority of family caregivers are women, providing more hours of care than men. In addition to providing care, these women are also employed and in the sandwich generation. This means they are caring for children while also providing care for aging parents. The caregiving responsibilities of women have increased during the pandemic, with one in 10 women gaining new caregiving responsibilities as a result of the pandemic. Women of colour providing care are also more likely to only have a high school education or less, making it harder for them to find adequate employment opportunities.
The financial impact of caregiving on women is significant. Women caregivers report a lack of choice in providing care and are more likely than men to care for two or more adults, be unemployed, and experience higher levels of stress. This has led to three million American women leaving the workforce since the start of the pandemic. Dropping down to part-time employment or leaving the workforce altogether can put women caregivers in a precarious financial situation, especially as they reach retirement age. Studies have shown that women who provide ongoing and intensive caregiving are at increased risk of early retirement, which can have a significant impact on their income in retirement. Women caregivers are also two-and-a-half times more likely than non-caregivers to experience poverty later in life.
Caregiving can also contribute to declines in women’s health. Women caregivers are more likely to have one or more chronic health conditions and are at double the risk for coronary heart disease if they are spending nine or more hours a week caring for a spouse. Women who identify as caregivers have higher rates of emotional distress than non-caregivers. Access to caregiving resources can also be a challenge for women caregivers, particularly those who are non-white. Many caregivers report needing respite care but not receiving it due to a lack of knowledge about available services or financial limitations.
These challenges have led many women to scale back their work or leave their jobs entirely. The Great Resignation, which refers to the phenomenon of people leaving their jobs through and after the pandemic, has been affecting more women than men. Women are leaving the labour force at a higher rate than men. Burnout and caregiving responsibilities are cited as common reasons for leaving a job.
To support women caregivers, it is important to ease their burden. This can be done through simple, free actions such as offering to help with errands or providing emotional support. Providing access to resources, such as respite care, can also make a significant difference in the lives of women caregivers. It is also important for policymakers and employers to recognize the challenges faced by women caregivers and to implement policies that support them, such as flexible work arrangements and paid family leave.
Conclusion
While International Women’s Day is a day to celebrate the achievements of women, it is also important to recognize the challenges that women face, particularly those related to caregiving. Women continue to be the primary caregivers in families, and this can lead to financial insecurity, health problems, and the need to scale back work or leave jobs entirely. By making a conscious effort to support women caregivers, we can improve their caregiving journey and create a more equitable society for all women.
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