Gendered Impacts of COVID-19

Policy Insights

The Gendered Impacts of COVID-19 collection brings a gender lens to discussions around the COVID-19 pandemic response and recovery. Drawing upon the expertise and research from four centres across Monash University, this collection provides gender-sensitive analysis on peace and security, humanitarian settings and women’s rights, gender-based violence, the economy, caring and social reproduction responsibilities, and health and well-being.

While the restrictions of COVID-19 are exacerbating issues of gendered violence and gender equality, we see an opportunity to create change for the better. Increased funding for domestic violence response, the ability to quickly adapt and innovate service provision, and the sustained media coverage and awareness of this violence in Australia during the COVID-19 are indicators of recognition of the scale of the problem and the potential to eliminate or at least significantly reduce violence against women... Now, more than ever, research is needed to support women and children experiencing violence, and the practitioners working to support them and secure their safety.

The 'Shadow Pandemic' of COVID-19: Editorial by Jacqui True and Kate Fitz-Gibbon

Learn more about Gendered Impacts of COVID-19 on the Better Governance & Policy website.

Research Briefs and Reports

Blogs

• Kate Fitz-Gibbon, Naomi Pfitzner & Jacqui True. "More help required: the crisis in family violence during the coronavirus pandemic," The Conversation, 18 August 2020.
• Naomi Pfitzner, Jacqui True, Kate Fitz-Gibbon & Silke Meyer. "‘We are in a bubble that is set to burst’. Why urgent support must be given to domestic violence workers," The Conversation, 1 July 2020.
• Sofia Patel. "Insecurity, gender and violent extremism in the era of Covid-19," Monash GPS Blog, 25 June 2020.
• Jenna Sapiano. "The Gender Question: Global Constitutionalism and the COVID-19 Pandemic," IACL-AIDC Blog, 11 June 2020.
• Sara E. Davies & Jacqui True. "The Importance of Gender Inclusion in COVID-19 Responses," World Politics Review, 5 June 2020.
• Sara E. Davies, Sharman Stone & Jacqui True. "Mapping the cost of the pandemic to women in the Indo-Pacific," Lowy Interpreter, 3 June 2020.
• Alexandra Phelan, John P. Sullivan & Robert J. Bunker. "Third Generation Gangs Strategic Note No. 26: COVID-19, Revolutionaries and BACRIM in Colombia," Small Wars Journal, 2 June 2020.
• Eleanor Gordon. "Consequences of the Pandemic on Conflicts in Asia: Challenges and Recommendations," ISPI Dossier, 29 May 2020.
• Jacqui True & Sharman Stone. "Coronavirus crisis compounds efforts to reach and protect vulnerable women and children," Monash Lens, 29 May 2020.
• Florence Carrot & Eleanor Gordon. "Emergency aid amid Covid-19: Falling trust and rising obstacles," Lowy Interpreter, 28 May 2020.
• Nuri Veronika, Richard Fosu & Meikko Forones. "The COVID lockdown threat to children's security in developing nations," Monash Lens, 18 May 2020.
• Shirin M. Rai & Jacqui True, "A Regenerative State or Business as Usual?" Think Development (WICID), 15 May 2020.
• Alexandra Phelan, Nuri Veronika, Helen Stenger & Irine Gayatri. "COVID-19 and violent extremist groups: adapting to an evolving crisis," Monash Lens, 28 April 2020.
• Eleanor Gordon & Katrina Lee-Koo. "The danger of disease in the world’s largest refugee camp," Lowy Interpreter, 24 April 2020.
• Eleanor Gordon & Samanthi J. Gunawardana. "Like a Tidal Wave: Coronavirus in Countries Already Facing Development Challenges," Australian Outlook, 24 April 2020.
• Jacqui True. "Women’s Leadership Could Enhance Global Recovery From COVID-19," PRIO, 23 April 2020.
• Samanthi J. Gunawardana & Nedha de Silva. "Rethinking Microfinance in Post-War Sri Lanka: Mobilisation and Call for Reform," Progress in Political Economy, 14 April 2020.
• Eleanor Gordon & Florence Carrot. "Coronavirus in conflict: The fight has hardly begun," Lowy Interpreter, 8 April 2020.
• Sara E. Davies, Sophie Harman, Jacqui True and Clare Wenham. "Why gender matters in the impact and recovery from Covid-19," Lowy Interpreter, 20 March 2020.

Online Seminars

COVID-19 and Violent Extremism: Gender Perspectives (3 June 2020)

Dr Fatima Akilu, Professor Mia Bloom, Dr Noor Huda Ismail, Sanam Naraghi Anderlini MBE, Dr Cathrine Thorleifsson and Dr Alexandra Phelan (Chair)

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed an unprecedented crisis internationally. Though focus is often placed on government responses, the pandemic has also allowed for violent extremist groups to both leverage and capitalise on the effects of COVID-19, impacting women and men differently. We have seen VE organisations respond to the virus by ramping up online propaganda messages, spreading conspiracies and engaging in misinformation campaigns. These organisations seek to foster perceptions of inefficiency and mistrust in government. In some countries, non-state armed groups have adopted state-like functions by providing social welfare services and enforcing local lockdowns vis-à-vis the state. This event will bring together international experts to discuss how COVID-19 has impacted on gender dynamics in violent groups around the world. It is part of a series co-hosted with: Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, the LSE Centre for Women, Peace and Security, the PRIO Centre on Gender, Peace and Security and the Women, Peace and Security Institute in the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre.