Founder of Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR), Amina Oyagbola, has revealed that the shift to remote working due to the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in women taking on additional burdens of emotional labour and care work.
Oyabgola disclosed this during WISCAR’s recent event to mark the unveiling of its investigative findings on the impact of Covid-19 on women working in Nigeria’s formal and informal sectors.
Development Diaries understands that WISCAR’s investigation sought to understand women’s perspectives on the socio-economic impacts of the pandemic on their livelihoods, security, and mental health.
The investigation, which was carried out through the use of surveys, aimed to ‘influence and support more inclusive private and public sector-driven interventions that are gender-inclusive and responsive in their design and approach’.
According to WISCR’s survey, 64.7 percent of women reported that they experienced increased anxiety, 55.9 percent have had to cope with added stress, while 41.2 percent said they were prone to a higher frequency of mood swings.
‘The inability to effectively work from home (46.3 percent), due to the inability to concentrate (39.2 percent), has increased distraction (47.2 percent); as inadequate infrastructure and support (37.6 percent) were cited as challenges that women faced’, Oyabgola said.
In tackling these challenges, 76.7 percent of respondents suggested private sector interventions around business innovation, while 61.9 percent indicated that realistic and far-reaching government safety nets and economic stimulus packages should be prioritised.
Furthermore, Oyabgola said, ‘The survey results provided a snapshot of the impact of Covid-19 on working women during the lockdown, highlighting the positive and negative effects and the opportunities that have emerged from the crisis’.
She commended Hacey Health, the Nanny Academy, Brown Button Foundation, and Milky Express for working with the group.
The findings are expected to provide women’s network and other non-profit organisations with the data required to support and strengthen advocacy efforts for gender responsiveness and inclusion.
WISCAR is a non-profit organisation focused on empowering and developing professional women and create an equal opportunity for women to contribute to development and growth in Africa.
Source: THISDAY
Photo source: WISCAR
