The Gendered Nature of the Risk Factors of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Gender Equality: A Literature Review from a Vulnerability Perspective

Pavithra Siriwardhane and Tehmina Khan
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Pavithra Siriwardhane: School of Accounting, Information Systems and Supply Chain, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Tehmina Khan: School of Accounting, Information Systems and Supply Chain, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 23, 1-18

Abstract: The risk factors of COVID-19 are not gender-neutral but gendered. A vulnerability approach to pandemics suggests that females are more prone to risk exposure while there are inequalities in accessing resources and opportunities. These inequalities create a gendered pandemic vulnerability. The current article addresses the specific vulnerability on the gendered risk factors encountered by girls and women due to the gendered pandemic in a global context and their impacts on gender inequality. This study analyses the existing literature on the gendered pandemic and risk factors on females that lead to gender inequality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, this study adopts a vulnerability approach to the pandemic as an analytical concept. Our findings from the systematic literature review suggest that women’s pre-existing vulnerabilities are exacerbated in the wake of the pandemic due to the gendered risk factors worsening the gender equality gap. We conclude by arguing that our study’s finding supports a vulnerability approach to disasters.

Keywords: COVID-19; gendered; gender equality; risk factors; vulnerability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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