Gender: A study conducted by 25 girls in seven different cities found that adolescent girls faced increased pressure to get married, spent longer hours on household chores, were unable to continue their education online, and reported an increase in gender-based violence.
Conducted by EMpower, a global philanthropy focused on at-risk youth in emerging markets, the study titled ‘COVID In Her Voice: A Girl-led and Centred Participatory Research Study’ was undertaken by girls aged 13-24 years from Ahmedabad, Alwar, Bareilly, Delhi, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Pune. The girls were trained as researchers to conduct interviews, and they surveyed a total of 153 girls from their respective communities.
Nearly 80 percent of the respondents reported an increase in household chores, 64 percent of girls and young women felt they did not have the space or the time to study online, and about 28 percent didn’t have access to mobile phones or the internet for online classes.
Nearly 42 percent of the girls also said that the pressure on them to get married had increased. Almost 90 percent of the girls reported experiencing mental distress and despair, and said that they had no access to information about coping mechanisms. The mental distress was made worse because they were unable to communicate with friends and teachers during the pandemic.
26 percent of respondents believe there was an increase in gender-based violence, and felt that fears and threats of violence intensified restrictions on their freedom.
Seven girl leaders suggested the following recommendations at the end of the research: establish girl-friendly spaces such as skills training centres and violence-free spaces within the community; ensure well-maintained, safe, and free toilets in close proximity to communities; and set up digital hubs in the community with charging stations and WiFi access, especially in smaller cities.
Read this article to learn how to support survivors of sexual violence in times of crisis.