The Impact of the Corona Crisis on the Gender Gap in Care Work and Housework

This paper examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the gender gap in unpaid care work and housework in Berlin. Utilizing quantitative data from a survey, it explores how pandemic-induced changes in work and family dynamics have influenced the distribution of unpaid labour between genders. The findings reveal that women, particularly mothers, have disproportionately shouldered the burden of increased unpaid work, reflecting and amplifying pre-existing gender inequalities. The study highlights the role of sociodemographic factors, including income and employment status, in shaping the division of unpaid labour and suggests that pandemic measures have reinforced traditional gender roles, despite previous policy efforts towards gender equality. The paper calls for policies that address these disparities and support a more equitable division of unpaid work.