7
WHY THE ECONOMIC RESPONSE TO COVID-19 NEEDS TO BE FINANCIALLY INCLUSIVE AND GENDER-SENSITIVE
HOW COVID-19 AFFECTS WOMEN COVID-19 impacts different genders in different ways. In countries where sex-disaggregated COVID-19 mortality data is available, it shows that men are suffering worse outcomes than women.11 In addition to the physical aspect of the virus, there are a number of other ways in which women and girls are disproportionately, negatively, impacted by COVID-19 and this then links to their ability to be included in the financial system. Policymakers and regulators need to be mindful of these wider factors and how they impact on women’s financial inclusions opportunities when they are building gender-sensitive considerations in all foundational aspects of their policy and regulatory work. These wider aspects may not be in the direct control of financial policymakers and regulators, but they do directly impact on financial inclusion levels and economic participation. 11 https://blogs.bmj.com/bmjgh/2020/03/24/sex-gender-and-covid-19-disaggregateddata-and-health-disparities/
Senior woman applying hand sanitizer, wearing protection mask against Covid-19. Malaysia. April 2020. (Photo by gahsoon/iStock)
