COVID-19 highlighted mothers’ burden, still unmet
AUSTRALIA, May 5: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted and intensified the long-standing unequal burden placed on mothers in managing household responsibilities, childcare, and financial pressures. It showed that this imbalance is not incidental but structurally embedded in society, reinforced by social expectations, workplace norms, and policy gaps.
When schools closed, workplaces shifted, and social support systems collapsed during lockdowns, much of the unpaid care work moved into homes. This shift placed a disproportionate load on women, particularly mothers, who became responsible for juggling employment, childcare, education, household management, and emotional support. Much of this work, however, remained invisible even to those performing it, as many women did not initially recognise it as gendered inequality but rather as circumstance.
Research conducted between 2021 and 2023, involving 113 participants from social work and education sectors in Canada, examined family experiences during COVID-19. It found that mothers frequently reported managing overwhelming responsibilities such as remote work, childcare, job loss, and financial instability. Despite these pressures, most participants did not explicitly link their experiences to gender, instead attributing them to situational demands or coincidence.
The findings revealed how deeply internalised gender roles are, with women often viewing caregiving and emotional labour as natural responsibilities rather than unequal burdens.
Even when one partner remained at home or lost employment, mothers often continued to shoulder both professional and domestic duties. The emotional toll was significant, with some participants noting that their mental health directly affected the stability of the entire household.
The pandemic also exposed long-term economic inequalities. Women earn significantly less than men on average, and mothers experience a “motherhood penalty,” with earnings dropping sharply after childbirth and continuing to lag over time, while fathers’ incomes remain largely stable.
The study concludes that caregiving and emotional labour are still treated as private responsibilities rather than shared social obligations. Without structural change and greater recognition of unpaid care work, crises like COVID-19 will continue to deepen existing gender inequalities and place sustained pressure on mothers across generations. (The Conversation)
