Commentary: Working Mothers’ Dilemma During the Covid-19 Pandemic

There is increasing evidence from developed countries showing that the Covid-19 recession disproportionately impacted women in the workforce, causing a so-called “she-cession”. This paper investigates the magnitude of this phenomenon in China.

Our results show a widening gender gap in unemployment, hours worked, and monthly salary throughout 2020. Women’s marital and motherhood status exacerbated the gender gaps; as expected, working mothers with a child aged 0-6 experienced the most adverse labor market outcomes. Moreover, working mothers with a child aged 0-6 displayed the worst mental health status compared to other groups throughout 2020.