An Exploration and Description of the Impact of COVID-19 on Women's Employment in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the issue of gender inequality in the labour market in relation to greater risks of unemployment and financial vulnerability. The shift to remote work altered responsibilities for domestic labour among partnered couples and single parents, as di...

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Main Authors: Catharina Womack, Penelope Orton
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Research and Postgraduate Support Directorate 2024-04-01
Series:African Journal of Inter-Multidisciplinary Studies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://niedresearch.org/index.php/ajims/article/view/1293
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author Catharina Womack
Penelope Orton
author_facet Catharina Womack
Penelope Orton
author_sort Catharina Womack
collection DOAJ
description The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the issue of gender inequality in the labour market in relation to greater risks of unemployment and financial vulnerability. The shift to remote work altered responsibilities for domestic labour among partnered couples and single parents, as did the impact of closed schools, child care centres, and more. Disruptions to economic and social arrangements of South African women were no different than what other women in similar situations experienced in other countries. This study sought to explore the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on women, with respect to employment, work-life balance and family responsibilities. A qualitative study within a constructivist paradigm, with a multisite, instrumental case study design was used. Data were collected from participants using both a survey questionnaire and a structured interview. A sample size of 172 was sought for the questionnaire and 26 qualitative interviews were conducted guided by data saturation. Quantitative questionnaire data were analysed using SPSS (version 27) for descriptive and inferential statistics. Thematic analysis of the qualitative interviews was done using NVIVO for coding and categorising. Black women, particularly from the informal sector, were found to be more adversely affected than those in formal employment by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study contributes to understanding the effects the COVID-19 pandemic had on women’s employment, work-life balance and family responsibilities.
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spelling doaj.art-99dfbe11a21740fba645662ea391cb572024-04-06T16:32:39ZengResearch and Postgraduate Support DirectorateAfrican Journal of Inter-Multidisciplinary Studies2663-45972663-45892024-04-016110.51415/ajims.v6i1.1293An Exploration and Description of the Impact of COVID-19 on Women's Employment in KwaZulu Natal, South AfricaCatharina Womack0Penelope Orton1Durban University of Technology, South AfricaDurban University of Technology, South Africa The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the issue of gender inequality in the labour market in relation to greater risks of unemployment and financial vulnerability. The shift to remote work altered responsibilities for domestic labour among partnered couples and single parents, as did the impact of closed schools, child care centres, and more. Disruptions to economic and social arrangements of South African women were no different than what other women in similar situations experienced in other countries. This study sought to explore the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on women, with respect to employment, work-life balance and family responsibilities. A qualitative study within a constructivist paradigm, with a multisite, instrumental case study design was used. Data were collected from participants using both a survey questionnaire and a structured interview. A sample size of 172 was sought for the questionnaire and 26 qualitative interviews were conducted guided by data saturation. Quantitative questionnaire data were analysed using SPSS (version 27) for descriptive and inferential statistics. Thematic analysis of the qualitative interviews was done using NVIVO for coding and categorising. Black women, particularly from the informal sector, were found to be more adversely affected than those in formal employment by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study contributes to understanding the effects the COVID-19 pandemic had on women’s employment, work-life balance and family responsibilities. https://niedresearch.org/index.php/ajims/article/view/1293employmentwork life balancefamily responsibilitiesCOVID-19women
spellingShingle Catharina Womack
Penelope Orton
An Exploration and Description of the Impact of COVID-19 on Women's Employment in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
African Journal of Inter-Multidisciplinary Studies
employment
work life balance
family responsibilities
COVID-19
women
title An Exploration and Description of the Impact of COVID-19 on Women's Employment in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
title_full An Exploration and Description of the Impact of COVID-19 on Women's Employment in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
title_fullStr An Exploration and Description of the Impact of COVID-19 on Women's Employment in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
title_full_unstemmed An Exploration and Description of the Impact of COVID-19 on Women's Employment in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
title_short An Exploration and Description of the Impact of COVID-19 on Women's Employment in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
title_sort exploration and description of the impact of covid 19 on women s employment in kwazulu natal south africa
topic employment
work life balance
family responsibilities
COVID-19
women
url https://niedresearch.org/index.php/ajims/article/view/1293
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AT catharinawomack explorationanddescriptionoftheimpactofcovid19onwomensemploymentinkwazulunatalsouthafrica
AT penelopeorton explorationanddescriptionoftheimpactofcovid19onwomensemploymentinkwazulunatalsouthafrica