How do men and women experience stigma around COVID in the workplace differently?
Equality
We live in strange and intense days. Covid-19 continues to disrupt the world we live in, and change how we go about our day-to-day lives. Especially in Europe, where many countries seemed to have had Corona under control. However, as the fall continues, cases are surging in a number of countries, including Norway. This poses many challenges for society, and especially workplaces that have tried to shift back to normal working conditions. It is inevitable that someone who was not showing symptoms, might unintentionally spread covid at the workplace. This can be an intense experience, but is this experience different for men and women? In an interesting recent piece of research, this is the exact question asked.
Examining a specific case in Belgium of seven women who came back from Milan in March, 2020, and would prove to be some of the first cases in the country, a pair of researchers examine different challenges women face when they get covid. In particular, what happens when women are “patient zero”.
Among their main points is that these women who were patient zero, experienced strong and intense feelings of guilt, shame, and hate. It is an interesting exploration of the stigma that might be attached to people who bring corona to the workplace, and in particular the stigma women might experience. This is especially timely as covid cases surge. It is also good for us to pause and reflect upon how men and women might experience bringing covid to the workplace differently.
The research paper also looks at other interesting topics including how ideas of caring influenced these women’ experience in different areas. Self-care, caring for the family, and also caring for their coworkers are all themes explored. To read more on this interesting, and timely piece of research, go here.
