Effects of the UK’s Lockdown between and within Gender: Exacerbating Existing Inequalities?

This project investigates the effect on gender inequality of the UK’s response to COVID-19, and the intersection of such inequality with other factors such as education, occupation and ethnicity. After reviewing the job losses and the furloughing of women and men that resulted from the lockdown, I ask: How has this affected the gender distribution of housework and childcare between partners; how do such effects vary for women with different levels of education, occupations and ethnic backgrounds; and what will the gender distribution of work in the family look like when the lockdown ends? This study is sited in the UK, a country with stark socio-economic inequality. The findings should inform future policy interventions in support of those women in greatest need.