Women in the Covid Crisis. To What Extent Does the Pandemic Reinforce Gender Inequalities in Great Britain?

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Gender inequalities in Great Britain

2.1 Gender inequalities in the private sphere

2.2 Gender inequalities in the public sphere

3. The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on women

3.1 The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on women in the workforce

3.2 The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on women’s physical and mental well-being

4. The male voice of the coronavirus pandemic

4.1 Survey

4.2 The lack of a female voices as experts during the pandemic

4.3 Analysis of coronavirus related articles in the Daily Mail

5. Conclusion

Objectives & Core Topics

This thesis investigates the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing gender inequalities in Great Britain. The research explores how structural disparities and traditional role expectations have negatively impacted women's workforce participation, mental well-being, and representation in media coverage.

• Pre-existing gender inequalities in private and public spheres
• Impact of the pandemic on women's employment and furlough rates
• Mental health implications and domestic abuse trends
• Gender bias in media representation, expert opinions, and journalism

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

1. Introduction: Presents the research question regarding how the pandemic has amplified gender inequalities in Great Britain and outlines the study's scope.

2. Gender inequalities in Great Britain: Examines pre-pandemic structures of gender imbalance within the private household and the public workforce.

3. The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on women: Analyzes the specific hardships women faced during the pandemic, focusing on employment risks, mental health, and social well-being.

4. The male voice of the coronavirus pandemic: Investigates media gender representation through a survey and an analysis of press coverage, highlighting the dominance of male experts.

5. Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, confirming that the pandemic has reinforced traditional role dynamics and gender disparities in the UK.

Keywords

Gender inequality, COVID-19 pandemic, Great Britain, female workforce, Simone de Beauvoir, gender pay gap, media representation, journalism, male dominance, mental health, domestic abuse, furlough, expert representation, Daily Mail, patriarchal system

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary focus of this thesis?

This work explores how the coronavirus pandemic has reinforced pre-existing gender inequalities within the UK, specifically analyzing the private and professional spheres.

What are the central thematic fields covered?

The research fields include gendered domestic roles, employment disparities, mental well-being during lockdowns, and gender bias in pandemic-related media coverage.

What is the core research question?

The paper asks: "To what extent does the pandemic reinforce gender inequalities in Great Britain?"

Which methodology does the author apply?

The author combines theoretical analysis using Simone de Beauvoir's works with empirical data, an original survey on media perception, and a qualitative media analysis of the Daily Mail.

What topics are discussed in the main body?

The body chapters cover the history of gender inequality, the specific impacts of COVID-19 on women at work and in their mental health, evidence of male-dominated media expertise, and case studies of journalistic framing.

Which keywords best characterize this research?

The most important keywords include gender inequality, COVID-19, media representation, workforce participation, patriarchy, and domestic sphere.

How does the author characterize the role of the "Daily Mail" in this study?

The author uses the Daily Mail as a case study to demonstrate how mainstream media tends to frame men as objective experts, while women are often relegated to subjective, emotional, or secondary roles.

What does the survey in chapter 4 reveal about media consumption?

The survey specifically indicates that participants perceived media coverage of pandemic experts as largely male-dominated and that women’s voices were significantly less present in objective reporting.

How does the author connect Simone de Beauvoir to current events?

The author uses de Beauvoir's concepts to explain the persistent social expectation that women are the primary caregivers, which continues to shape roles in households and workforce distribution even decades later.