| Abstract [eng] |
This report provides evidence of the negative consequences of structural gender inequality more often experienced by women in Lithuanian society, which became more critical within the context of COVID-19. During the quarantine period (the first lockdown was from 16 March, 2020 until 17 June, 2020), the second from 4 November 2020 until July 1, 2021) women’s unemployment grew significantly faster than men’s, primarily because they work in sectors which were partially or completely closed during the lockdown period. On the other hand, the risk of being infected by COVID-19 is higher for women than men because of their prevalence in the professions of healthcare and social work. Additionally, women are overrepresented in grocery shops, pharmacies and other frontline occupations. The most vulnerable groups in terms of poverty in Lithuania are the unemployed, single people, single parents raising children, old age pensioners, people with disabilities, large families and children. Usually, it is women who become single parents and there are almost twice as many female old age pensioners than male. Moreover, women are at a higher risk of poverty and have been more negatively affected by the pandemic than men. Caring duties in the family are unevenly distributed within couples. Data on Lithuania show that on a daily basis 79 % women cook and 41 % women take care and/or educate their children, while only 29 % of men cook and only 24 % take care of their children. Working mothers experienced difficulties in balancing work and caring duties while working at home when their children are also at home due to closed schools, kindergartens and informal education activities twice as often as men. The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative effect on the dynamics of domestic violence in Lithuania. Although in 2020 there were fewer registered crimes of domestic violence than in 2019, the number of murders at home increased by almost a third (from 21 cases in 2019 to 28 cases in 2020) as well as the statistics on severe health impairment. Some experts noted that due to lockdown people were forced into isolation and this had an impact on the increase of domestic violence but a decrease in the reporting of it. |
