Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 11, 2025
15:00
Setup of Consumer Wearable Devices for Exposure and Health Monitoring in Population Studies
Published on: February 3, 2023
2.8K
COVID-19 and the gender gap in work hours
Caitlyn Collins1, Liana Christin Landivar2, Leah Ruppanner3
1Department of Sociology Washington University in St Louis.
Gender, Work, and Organization
|August 25, 2020
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic increased caregiving burdens for parents. Mothers with young children reduced work hours significantly more than fathers, widening the gender work hour gap.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Economics
- Public Health
Background:
- COVID-19 pandemic led to school and daycare closures.
- Increased caregiving responsibilities for working parents.
- Parents altered work hours to manage new demands.
Purpose of the Study:
- Examine changes in mothers' and fathers' work hours.
- Analyze the period from February to April 2020.
- Assess the impact of the pandemic's initial peak on parental employment.
Main Methods:
- Utilized panel data from the US Current Population Survey.
- Employed person-level fixed effects models.
- Compared work hour changes between mothers and fathers.
Main Results:
- Mothers with young children reduced work hours 4-5 times more than fathers.
- The gender gap in work hours increased by 20-50%.
- Disproportionate impact on women's work hours and employment.
Conclusions:
- COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated gender inequalities in the workplace.
- Significant challenges for women's work hours and employment.
- Need for policies addressing pandemic-related caregiving burdens.
Related Concept Videos
02:30Quantifying Work
23.4K
As a system undergoes a change, its internal energy can change, and energy can be transferred from the system to the surroundings, or from the surroundings to the system.
23.4K
01:30Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development
197
Social-emotional experiences and cultural influences play significant roles in shaping gender development. During middle childhood, from ages 6 to 11, peer groups become dominant in reinforcing gender norms. Children in this age group often align with same-gender peer groups, which actively encourage behaviors that conform to traditional gender roles. For instance, boys may be discouraged from engaging in activities perceived as feminine, reinforcing culturally dictated norms about masculinity...
197
01:29Bias in Epidemiological Studies
1.1K
Biases can arise at various stages of research, from study design and data collection to analysis and interpretation. Recognizing and addressing these biases is essential to ensure the validity and reliability of epidemiological findings.Broadly speaking, biases in epidemiology fall into three main categories: selection bias, information bias, and confounding. A more detailed description of possible biases is:
1.1K
01:27Panic Disorder
407
Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent and sudden minutes-long episodes of intense fear, known as panic attacks. These attacks may feel like heart attacks and often happen without warning or a specific cause. They can include symptoms such as rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, chest pain, trembling, sweating, dizziness, and a sense of helplessness. During a panic attack, individuals may feel as though they are experiencing a heart attack or are in a...
407
01:21Impact of Social Context on Individuals
201
Social psychology examines how the real or imagined presence of others influences individuals' thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. A key concept in this field is the role of social context in shaping behavior. The same individual may act differently depending on the social setting, due to the varying expectations and norms associated with each environment. This context-dependent behavior illustrates the influence of social roles, which prescribe appropriate conduct in specific situations.Social...
201
01:28Impact of Groups on Individuals
219
Groups play a fundamental role in shaping individual behavior, as they establish norms that guide interactions and decision-making. Social psychology examines how individuals conform to group expectations, often adjusting their attitudes and actions to align with group norms. These norms can be formal, such as workplace policies, or informal, such as unspoken social expectations within a fraternity.Conformity and Social InfluenceConformity arises when individuals modify their behaviors or...
219