COVID-19's gendered effect on subjective wellbeing in MENA countries

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Public Health
• Gender Studies

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted pre-existing societal inequities.
• Galtung's theory of positive peace emphasizes the absence of structural violence and inequality.
• Gender disparities in wellbeing and economic security were evident prior to the pandemic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the gendered effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on subjective wellbeing (SWB) in four Middle Eastern countries.
• To analyze the factors contributing to lower SWB among women during the pandemic.

Main Methods:

• Utilized mobile phone panel survey data from 12,614 observations.
• Employed statistical controls for individual characteristics and geographic-time fixed effects.
• Examined the relationship between SWB, employment status, household income, and housework time.

Main Results:

• Women consistently reported lower SWB than men across all four countries.
• Women experienced disproportionately higher increases in unemployment rates.
• Declining household income was the primary factor linked to lower SWB, intersecting with gender and poverty.
• Increased time spent on housework negatively impacted women's SWB, especially in urban areas.

Conclusions:

• The pandemic intensified existing gender inequalities and structural violence against women in the studied Middle Eastern contexts.
• Economic factors and increased domestic burdens significantly contributed to the decline in women's SWB.
• Addressing structural inequalities is crucial for mitigating the gendered impacts of global crises.