Living Conditions of Women Worsen During Epidemic
The living conditions of women who are the backbone of their families have worsened in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. They are struggling alone to shoulder the economic burden of their families.
Rita Wati Sirait (47), women-headed household, in her shop in a fishing village in Tanjungbalai City, North Sumatra, Saturday (8/1/2020). Rita has been struggling alone to support her three children for eight years since her husband died.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS - In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, the living conditions of women who have to act as the head of their families have worsened. Moreover, the fact that they are the backbone of the family often goes unrecognized. As a result, they are vulnerable to discrimination and poverty.
In fact, the number of women-headed households continues to increase from year-to-year, especially in conflict and disaster areas. According to data issued by Statistics Indonesia (BPS), the number of women-headed households reached 10.3 million or 15.7 percent of the total. Most of them lived below the poverty line and had low education (42.57 percent did not have a diploma). The largest number was found in West Nusa Tenggara, Aceh, Yogyakarta, South Sulawesi and East Java.