From both a physiological and psychosocial standpoint, COVID-19 affects women and men differently. This research project will aim to uncover those differences and develop tailored strategies to more effectively assist the most vulnerable during this pandemic and future outbreaks.

Early statistics show that while men and women have been infected in largely equal numbers, men are more likely to die from the virus, for reasons not yet known. There are also sex and gendered secondary consequences of the pandemic. For instance, women are overrepresented in the health workforce and are more likely to take on additional informal caring responsibilities, with implications for their physical and mental health. In addition, social isolation measures are expected to dramatically increase women’s risk of domestic and family violence.

These sex and gendered impacts of COVID-19 should be urgently understood so we can reduce the risks to both women and men and protect their fundamental human rights.

To contribute to this effort, this project will examine – through a gender lens – how COVID-19 is affecting the community, paying close attention to the distinctive repercussions of COVID-19 on both sexes.

It will seek to gain insight into the outcomes of COVID-19 on patients and the broader community, and the downstream impacts including the right to access healthcare and live free from violence.