Healthcare Gender Gap: Women Shoulder Unpaid Work

A recent report by the World Health Organization sheds light on global gender disparities in the health sector, revealing that women shoulder 76% of unpaid care activities. This imbalance results in lower wages and poor conditions for female workers in the healthcare sector. The report advocates for gender-equitable investments and policies to address these disparities to foster fairer economies, improve caregiver well-being, and service quality.

According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), caregiving work encompasses a range of responsibilities, from aiding individuals with medical treatment to providing support for chronic illnesses. This vital work demands significant physical exertion and a hands-on approach, highlighting the indispensable role of caregivers in maintaining health and well-being.

Underscoring the pivotal role women hold in caregiving, the WHO report 'Fair Share for Health and Care: Gender and the Undervaluation of Health and Care Work' highlights that women occupy 67% of paid healthcare positions and handle approximately 76% of unpaid caregiving responsibilities globally. Despite the significant contributions of women caregivers, they often encounter inferior working conditions and lower wages compared to men in similar roles. These inequities are rooted in entrenched societal norms and biases, perpetuating the unequal treatment of women caregivers in the healthcare sector.

The Stanford Social Innovation Review reports that in Mexico, women earn 17% less than men in equivalent job roles in the healthcare sector, a disparity particularly evident between nurses and medical technicians. Furthermore, of Mexico’s total healthcare workforce in 3Q23, women comprised 72.2% and yet earned an average monthly salary of US$325.50, while men, constituting only 27.8%, earned US$383.20. This disparity highlights the ongoing challenges women face in achieving wage parity within the healthcare industry.

The report warns that if left unaddressed, it could intersect with countries’ efforts towards universal health coverage. This outcome could compel more women to take on unpaid care work, further straining the health of caregivers and the quality of healthcare services. Jim Campbell, Director for Health Workforce, WHO, emphasizes the necessity of gender-equitable investments in healthcare to reset the value of these sectors and foster fairer and more inclusive economies. "We are urging leaders, policymakers, and employers to prioritize investment: it is imperative for a fair allocation of resources towards health and care," he affirms.

Overall, the report highlights a bleak picture of the gender disparities deeply entrenched within the healthcare sector. It portrays a landscape where women, despite constituting the majority of both the paid workforce and unpaid caregiving responsibilities, face significant challenges.