Friday Figures - 16 Oct

As the global community continues its fight against the virus, any notion of a ‘normal’ life seems far away for the most part. The first, most difficult impact of Covid-19 is one’s livelihood. Last week we saw the huge numbers of concerts and gigs cancelled and its inevitable impact on income. This week we look at the unsurprising fact of women bearing the brunt of economic hardship. CARE International's report She Told Us So (RAPID GENDER ANALYSIS: Filling the Data Gap to Build Back Equal) found that 55% of women they spoke to reported that “income loss was one of the biggest impacts COVID-19 had for them, compared with only 34% of men.” We need to look at and reassess systematic change in local and global contexts. The arts, music and culture in particular have come up again and again where its merits have been questioned in government response to financial aid (or lack, thereof) which has not only been disheartening, but having devastating consequences to making ends meet.

Speaking to over 10,000 people over 40 countries, Care International’s full report can be found here.