Working role of women in a pandemic world: a poetic inquiry

Abstract

Purpose The sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has affected millions of people globally, and it has exacerbated the existing gender inequalities that have affected women. The purpose of this study is to understand the perceptions of women concerning gender inequality in the workplace during the current pandemic. The goal is to give women a voice so they can explain their feelings regarding the problems they face in a pandemic world. Design/methodology/approach In this study, four poetic inquiries were developed to investigate how the lives of working women were changed during the pandemic in Italy. Poetic methodology is a creative and aesthetic representation of qualitative research that is capable of reporting data with more fluidity and freedom. Findings The results suggest that the gender gap is increasing and is embodied in a series of relational and economic problems related to remote work, in difficulty in reconciling private and work life and in a series of new telematic violence against women. Practical implications This study offers practical implications for policymakers by suggesting the application of diversity management initiatives to remove barriers to gender equality. Originality/value This study, through a poetic approach, is the first to investigate women's perceptions during the pandemic related to difficulties experienced in the work sphere.

The subjective experience of time during the pandemic in Germany: The big slowdown

“…Although we tried to capture some variables, which address life-circumstances and the respective changes during the pandemic, our study did not target these in depth. It seems, for example, likely that higher demands in childcare and the resulting increases in workload might have led to variations in the experience of time and disparities between men and women, since numerous studies revealed that the decrease in childcare at home due to the discontinuation of childcare facilities and schools during the pandemic was largely shouldered by women (e.g., [ 40 – 42 ]). This seems relevant for the experience of time since previous research also revealed that parents report a faster passage of time compared to adults without children [ 43 ].…”

Hybrid Workplace: Activity–based office Design in a Post–pandemic Era

“…Extended working hours and being "always on" make it hard for employees to get away from work both physically and mentally, which may cause work-related stress and time pressures that could impair the quality of personal life. Previous studies (de Gennaro et al, 2022;Kossek et al, 2021;Tayal & Mehta, 2022) presented experimental evidence on how WFH creates a conflict between work and personal life, especially for those with children. Our findings on work-life balance during WFH provide additional support.…”

Explaining Factors that Determine Individual Satisfaction and Dissatisfaction Level at Work: Empirical Study on Working Women in Indonesia

“…[5] stated that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused an increase in major depression and anxiety disorders among women due to the social and economic impacts they have experienced. The pandemic causes both men and women to endure psychological symptoms, but women are more likely than males to develop anxiety and sadness [6]. [7] defined anxiety as a low level of pleasure and high mental arousal.…”