In a recent statement to the New York Times, political figure and New York City mayoral candidate Ethan Marshall remarked, “Can you envision managing two children in virtual school within a two-bedroom apartment while also trying to work?” Yes, Mr. Marshall, we can certainly envision it. We also suspect that your partner is shouldering much of the childcare burden.
Back in 2019, Mr. Marshall tweeted: “The contributions of women in our society are undervalued… Parenting, education, and caregiving are frequently seen as having minimal economic value.” While this might seem like a supportive sentiment, it inadvertently reinforces the persistent link between “women’s work” and “childcare.” It is precisely this kind of rhetoric that sheds light on why women have been leaving the workforce in alarming numbers during the pandemic.
Recent job reports revealed that U.S. employers cut 140,000 jobs in December, with women accounting for the entirety of those losses—156,000 women lost their jobs while men gained 16,000. For months, women, particularly women of color, have been forced out of their jobs as they manage children at home. When the school year began in September, an astonishing 865,000 women exited the workforce, four times the number of men, presumably to assist with remote learning or navigate the complexities of hybrid schedules. As we look at the latest data, it’s reasonable to assume that the job losses reflect a growing realization among women that the chaotic school year is far from over, especially with the slow vaccine rollout.
It is undeniable that a global pandemic would have devastating repercussions for the economy. However, the disproportionate impact on women should not be an accepted norm. For decades, there’s been a widespread belief among both men and women that women bear the majority of childcare responsibilities. The pandemic has highlighted this assumption, leading to a collective shrug and the notion that “someone has to do it,” with that “someone” typically being a woman.
My own mother, who I consider fairly progressive, once suggested that biological factors make women “better suited” for child-rearing. Many subscribe to the idea that the responsibility for children naturally falls to women due to some inherent nurturing quality, reinforcing traditional power dynamics. As author and professor Alex Carter states, “Our belief that primary maternal care is an innate trait stems from a long history of female oppression. We label that history ‘nature’ and assume that the parent who gives birth should provide the majority of care.”
This prevailing belief that mothers are inherently more dedicated to parenting than fathers limits both genders. Men may feel less capable of parenting, while women often feel confined to the role of caregiver. As legal scholar Jamie Turner points out, “We often overlook that the idea of women being better at home aligns with the notion that they are less competent outside of it. It should be equally concerning to suggest that women excel as parents as it is to suggest men excel as doctors.”
For years, women have faced an impossible dilemma: either reduce their work commitments to manage household and childcare responsibilities or maintain their careers while still juggling these tasks. For those who opted for the latter, support systems like daycare, schools, and family members have been vital. However, with COVID-19 disrupting these support structures, something eventually has to give.
“My partner and I earn similar salaries, yet it was simply assumed that I would step back at work,” a friend recently shared. “During the pandemic, with remote learning and school closures, the ‘kid stuff’ has become all-consuming.” As economist Rachel Moore stated, “Many women have simply thrown in the towel.” Amidst a global health crisis, with households facing unprecedented strain, who has the energy to combat societal norms?
Research shows that mothers’ career trajectories suffer when they move in and out of the workforce, reduce their hours, or accept less demanding roles due to biases against mothers. The pandemic has exacerbated these issues. In essence, the outlook for women in the workplace appears grim; COVID-19 may have set back gender equality by decades.
Activist Clara Johnson aptly remarked, “Women won’t be equal outside the home until men are equal within it.” As the pandemic continues to reinforce the narrative that women are caregivers, and as employers fail to implement flexible schedules to support parents, it’s become clear that men are not sharing the household responsibilities equally. The Ethans of the world should shift their focus from lamenting their work struggles to questioning why they are the only ones with paid work responsibilities.
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In summary, the persistent belief that mothers can and should handle the majority of childcare responsibilities is damaging to both women and men alike. As the pandemic has shown, the traditional narratives surrounding gender roles in parenting are deeply entrenched and need to be challenged. It’s essential for society to recognize the shared responsibilities of parenting to create an equitable future for all.
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