COVID-19 has touched almost every facet of life across the globe, radically affecting health, livelihoods, social interaction, and more. Beyond its more tangible impacts, COVID-19 has also upended the progress made in gender equality, with women in many countries disproportionately affected at work and home.
In Thailand, women account for a significant part of the workforce in industries that have been hard hit by the pandemic – about 65 percent in hospitality and services, and about 49 percent in manufacturing. With the pandemic-induced increase in responsibilities for care and housework, many women have been forced to leave paid employment to take on additional unpaid care, such as childcare, elderly care, and home schooling.
The pandemic-induced gender challenge is not unique to Thailand. Globally, women’s…
