What have the women that left the workforce been doing the last 18 months?
Managing Money:
Adjusting the budgets to one salary. Looking for ways to cut back, save and extend what you do have.
Worrying about protecting investments, home values, retirement in an unknown economy
Managing Home:
Redecorating/reorganizing for home offices and remote school spaces
Constantly procuring food & cooking (especially to save money)
Constantly cleaning, because everyone is home all.of.the.time.
Laundry
Managing Kids:
Supporting remote school
Unable to get help from family in the beginning due to fear of transmission
Finding creative outlets for boredom and lack of social contact (aka the kids are bouncing off the wall)
Fearing kids are not learning anything
Managing Covid:
Managing covid safety; wear masks, wash hands, don’t touch face, etc.
Covid testing - procuring rapid tests and scheduling PCR tests
Vaccination management - when will they be available, will they be safe, who will get it first, how will we get it, will there be any symptoms, when will we get the second shot, will we have other symptoms, do we have to take time off work/school, etc, if anyone has symptoms? Then sending children back to school in-person, they become the most vulnerable and unprotected, yet around the most people. The vax becomes available for children 5-11 and the cycle begins again, only with higher anxiety because they’re your kids. Now it’s time for boosters for all the adults.
Maintaining Your Partnership:
Surviving under constant worry; unable to ensure that we would, in fact, be ok.
No time alone
Too much time together
Loss of date night options - no babysitters, restaurants are risky. Movie theaters are closed.
What have women been missing out on?
Income
Socialization
Intellectual challenge
401K benefits
Contributing to savings
Paying down other bills
Respect as a professional
Career progression
In-office perks, like free coffee, snacks and lunch
A reprieve from the house