In the Philippines, the COVID-19 pandemic exerted a disproportionate burden on women

03 Sep 2026

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted all people in the Philippines, but the burdens it imposed on women were more than they were on men. Most women were deployed on the front lines as nurses, caregivers, and health personnel and had the additional duty of taking care of their families back home. This dual responsibility contributed to stress, burnout, and mental health challenges, particularly because hazard pay, protective equipment, and mental health programs were ineffective. Meanwhile, most female-dominated industries, like retail, tourism, and household work, were hit hard by the loss of jobs. The informal women workers were not getting much financial assistance and hence they could not recover.

The analysis indicates that the health needs of women, including maternal care, were neglected as hospitals were preoccupied with COVID-19 patients at the expense of pregnant women. These issues indicate the way pandemic responses tend to overlook gender differences, which may slow down and exacerbate inequality in recovery. The article urges crisis management to be gender responsive, that is, policies and programs need to be responsive to the special challenges of women. These involve equal access to health care, women workers financial support, mental health services and women involvement in decision-making. In this way, societies will be able to heal more equally and to be better prepared to face crises in the future.

The research is important as it shows how the COVID-19 outbreak in the Philippines disproportionately impacted women, revealing underlying gender disparities in health care, economic security, and care-giving duties. It indicates that although women were critical frontline workers and caregivers in the household, they lacked proper institutional support, were laid off in industries dominated by women, and were at a greater risk since maternal and reproductive health services were not given priority. These weaknesses led the study to emphasize the critical necessity of a gender-responsive pandemic response that guarantees equal access to health care, economic relief targeted to address these needs, mental health aid, and inclusion of women in decision-making. Finally, it shows that gender inequity is not only an issue of fairness but also an essential part of resilient health systems and sustainable recovery plans.

Author: Sairah Mae R Saipudina (Gender Center, University of the Philippines Los Baños)

Read the full paper: https://ojs.wpro.who.int/ojs/index.php/wpsar/article/view/1253

Image by Michelangelo Buonarroti from Pexels

In the Philippines, the COVID-19 pandemic exerted a disproportionate burden on women

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted all people in the Philippines, but the burdens it imposed on women were more than they were on men. Most women were deployed on the front lines as nurses, caregivers, and health personnel and had the additional duty of taking care of their families back home. This dual responsibility contributed to stress, burnout, and mental health challenges, particularly because hazard pay, protective equipment, and mental health programs were ineffective. Meanwhile, most female-dominated industries, like retail, tourism, and household work, were hit hard by the loss of jobs. The informal women workers were not getting much financial assistance and hence they could not recover.

The analysis indicates that the health needs of women, including maternal care, were neglected as hospitals were preoccupied with COVID-19 patients at the expense of pregnant women. These issues indicate the way pandemic responses tend to overlook gender differences, which may slow down and exacerbate inequality in recovery. The article urges crisis management to be gender responsive, that is, policies and programs need to be responsive to the special challenges of women. These involve equal access to health care, women workers financial support, mental health services and women involvement in decision-making. In this way, societies will be able to heal more equally and to be better prepared to face crises in the future.

The research is important as it shows how the COVID-19 outbreak in the Philippines disproportionately impacted women, revealing underlying gender disparities in health care, economic security, and care-giving duties. It indicates that although women were critical frontline workers and caregivers in the household, they lacked proper institutional support, were laid off in industries dominated by women, and were at a greater risk since maternal and reproductive health services were not given priority. These weaknesses led the study to emphasize the critical necessity of a gender-responsive pandemic response that guarantees equal access to health care, economic relief targeted to address these needs, mental health aid, and inclusion of women in decision-making. Finally, it shows that gender inequity is not only an issue of fairness but also an essential part of resilient health systems and sustainable recovery plans.

Author: Sairah Mae R Saipudina (Gender Center, University of the Philippines Los Baños)

Read the full paper: https://ojs.wpro.who.int/ojs/index.php/wpsar/article/view/1253

Image by Michelangelo Buonarroti from Pexels