Virus reveals another ill – it’s a man’s world again

Pre-lockdown, the culture wars raged over things that were downright barmy. Since the pandemic took hold, however, more real issues have emerged. Despite decades of feminist progress, old gender stereotypes have clung on.

A report has found that mothers are more likely than fathers to have lost their jobs, yet are also doing more childcare and housework.

Academic papers submitted by women by mid-April fell, while those submitted by men rose, said the British Journal for the Philosophy of Science.

Women have borne the brunt of lockdown in more serious ways, too: domestic violence had soared across Europe. The World Health Organisation said emergency calls by women went up 60 per cent in April compared to last year.

It seems that Covid has been bad for women right to the very top. The Government’s daily briefings have been a very masculine affair. But beyond briefings, some have detected a distinct lack of female direction.

Although Boris said last week that there were “enough” women in top jobs to ensure proper gender representation, there have been serious eyebrows raised about the terms of the lockdown lifting, particularly when it comes to childcare and domestic work.

When Caroline Nokes, the women and equalities committee chairman, asked the PM last week whose advice he had taken on reopening schools at the same time as the retail sector, of which 60 per cent of employees are women, Boris dodged giving a direct answer. But he did point out that the head of the No10 Policy Unit, Munira Mirza, is a woman, and that there are a number of women in top jobs.

He’s right that it’s quality, not quantity – but there’s no denying the optics: British rule in the time of Covid looks very male.