How Covid-19 is Affecting Males & Females Differently

COVID-19 is Affecting Males and Females Differently
written by:  Luana Yoshikawa-Scanlan, PRIME Consultants
Global Health 50/50 non-profit produces the COVID-19 Sex-Disaggregated Data Tracker, providing current evidence of the impact gender and sex have on national COVID-related policies and pandemic responses.  Data from 194 countries are monitored, representing 99% of all confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths reported worldwide.
 
According to the organization’s data, gender and sex are significant indicators of who is most likely to become infected with COVID-19, the likelihood of severe infection, and poor outcomes. While females comprise the most confirmed cases, males are more often hospitalized, admitted to ICU and do not survive the infection.

This is a critical issue for people experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) during a pandemic, especially families who rely on the ‘man of the house’ for financial stability.  Not only is IPV escalating as a result of COVID-19 related stay-at-home and community lockdown protocols, but families are also unable to make financial ends meet, fueling tension and greater potential for violence.  99% of IPV survivors experience economic abuse transforming violence into a structural economic issue:

• abusers control their victim’s access to bank accounts, paychecks, public assistance;
• abusers commit fraud in the name of their victims resulting in the victim’s inability to acquire credit and who are often strapped with fraudulent debt;
• abusers isolate their victims to hide the abuse, restrict their access to help, and keep them emotionally trapped in their situation – COVID-19 related lockdowns work in the abusers’ favor.    

 
Without a pandemic environment, women are already experiencing more abuse – one in four women worldwide according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.  While COVID-19 may be affecting more males biologically, the emotional impact of the pandemic disproportionately affects women in most countries (data.unwomen.org).  Women lose their childcare and in-home assistance, are more likely to be laid off or directed to work from home, and become caretakers of infected spouses in addition to their children.
 
FreeFrom, a U.S. organization focused on strengthening IPV survivors’ financial security, suggests that as a ‘structural economic issue’ the following institutions can support survivors in the following ways:
 
Religious Organizations

• Ensure religious leaders and staff are educated and trained to ensure resources provided are non-judgmental, confidential, and victim focused;
• Provide counseling, shelter, emergency funds and resources with virtual access options.

 
Banks

• Waive fees to cash or deposit stimulus checks and other public assistance benefits for women;
• Waive opening balance requirements to allow survivors to open accounts and do direct deposits;
• Offer ‘survivor safety’ accounts which are monitored with enhanced fraud protections;
• Ensure bank staff are educated and trained to detect and respond to financial/economic abuse.

 
Employers

• Offer IPV-related leave (only 17 States offer this);
• Offer employees regular wellness check-ins including available counseling and peer groups;
• Start an emergency fund to cover victim expenses during emergencies;
• Intentionally employ survivors of violence.

 
The following online tool can help a victim assess her current financial wellbeing and offers links to resources that can help build her financial security: www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/financial-well-being/