By Prof. Ida Fatimwati bt Adi Badiozaman
Head of School (Design & Arts) & Associate Professor, Swinburne University of Technology
THE burden of Covid-19 does not fall equally. The impact has been profound in Sarawak, though the government has reacted quickly, applying a place-based approach to policy responses and implementing national and subnational measures in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Large urban areas have been hard hit, but deprived areas are more strongly affected than less deprived ones within them. In rural areas of Sarawak, the geographical barriers present more complex challenges and further complicate efforts to reach remote communities. Gaps between rural and urban communities in terms of health, basic facilities, the high poverty rate, substantial geographical diversity, and environmental conditions were exacerbated.
The impacts of crises are never gender-neutral. The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic across the global economy is profound, and Sarawak is no exception. The significant impact on health and the economy are reported daily in the news and social media platforms. Though the various lockdowns were necessary, women operated many of the affected businesses, including small-medium enterprises (SMEs) and micro-SMEs. For countless women in economies of every size and losing income, unpaid care and domestic work burden have exploded. Poor and marginalised women face an even higher risk of COVID-19 transmission and fatalities, loss of livelihood, and increased violence.
Overall, while everyone is facing unprecedented challenges, women are bearing the brunt of the economic and social fallout of COVID-19. While men make up the majority of those who have died from the virus, women and girls bear disproportionate care burdens, disruptions in income and education, poor access to health and other essential services, and gender digital and pay gaps. For women already living in poverty, these impacts can shock their economic stability as the pandemic exacerbates inequalities between women and men in the different socio-economic groups.
The existing challenges that are faced by women entrepreneurs pre-pandemic were accelerated and intensified when COVID-19 hit. In a report by UN Women (UN Women Asia and the Pacific, 2020), the effect of Covid-19 was unprecedented and has been described as a “double burden” in that women are more likely to be laid off at work because of the type of sectors where they are overrepresented, notably in the care and health sectors and in garments and other export industries. Furthermore, women who have to fulfil both employment and household duties find their lives much harder when whole families have been confined at home. Women struggle to stay economically active, whether self-employed or entrepreneurs, with these duties, intensified during the lockdown.
Although support is available through government policies, priority measures must be implemented to accompany both the immediate response and longer-term recovery efforts. Furthermore, gender-responsive economic and social policies are necessary to build equal and sustainable economies and societies in Sarawak. An entrepreneurship ecosystem and gender-responsive economic and social policies are essential to building equal and sustainable economies and societies in Sarawak to ensure that Covid-recovery initiatives are accessible and equitable. We must also empower women leaders in the post-Covid19 era. Empowering women is an indispensable tool for advancing development and reducing poverty. One of the biggest challenges faced by women is the lack of representation in various sectors. This lack of representation presents a complex challenge that often perpetuates discrimination, stereotypes, marginalisation and poverty. It is essential to have women’s voices reflected so that we don’t continue building a society from a male perspective in managing the impact of Covid-19 moving forward.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of TVS.
