Transcripts For ALJAZ The Stream 20240711

Thats after another 595 fatalities were confirmed over the past 24 hours. Thats the countrys highest daily death toll. Since may, were very much hoping that 2 things will start to come to our aid. Number one, the mass testing the kind i just described, the rapid turnaround testing. Then the other thing is now the prospect, the realistic prospect of a vaccine say you have a kind of, as it were to boxing gloves, to the disease in that, in the weeks and months that followed. But ive got to stress that were not out of the woods yet. Well, corona virus restrictions are being reimposed in several states across the u. S. As infections that shatter more records there. According to the covert tracking project, more than 130000, new cases were confirmed on tuesday, and texas has become the 1st state to record more than a 1000000 cases. More people are hospitalized with the virus than ever before. At least 85 people are now confirmed to have died in the violence surrounding ivory coasts disputed election. The government doubled the death toll ahead of a meeting between the president and the head of the main opposition designed to calm tensions. What that i won the controversial 3rd term was more than 94 percent of the vote after an opposition boycott. Along kongs prodemocracy legislators, every zines on mass after beijing passed the resolution disqualifying 4 of their colleagues. The government says there are some right to national security. Critics accuse china of silencing the say. Well, the scream is coming up next asking why women are dropping out of the workforce during the pandemic. Thanks for watching, but i hi, im femi oke a enjoying the stream while winning dropping out of the u. S. Workforce. As the pandemic hits the labor market, advocates worry that years of economic advancements by winning could be in jeopardy. We want to hear your thoughts at experience say, so be sure to tweet us at a. J. Strain, all leave a comment, and i live chat to join the conversation. The coronavirus pandemic has sent the u. S. Economy and i doubt what forcing many people, especially women out of work around 865000 of women who left the workforce in september compared 2216000. Men thats according to analysis of Labor Department figure is carried out by the National Womens law center. One main reason is that women all over represented in several of the worst hit industries. Another is the pressure to balance work at home life. Have a listen to what resign a real stall with the stream about how she lost her job. Were he from home with a 4 year old one year old with a difficult enough . I was reminded early on by my manager that he didnt want to hear my children on the back on a business call. When im from my point where i asked if you want to meet my one year old in the room alone. And he responds with how to greet you can do you need to hear that coming from a father to employ whos working hard and jobs. I reported discrimination that i encountered for months and i was fired. So here i am sure you Global Pandemic where millions are out of jobs and jobs is, joining us to talk about americas female recession in washington. D. C. , nicole mason. Shes the president and c. E. O. Of the institute for womens policy research in florida. Shes an economy reporter with the 19th news, and if a genius economist, diane lim, hello everybody, good to see you all collectively. Nodding your head and resigned. I was sharing her story, a dyad. What was going on the office the resonated with you . Well yeah, its always been hard for women to maintain careers outside the home and to take care of their children at home. And its just become even harder during this pandemic because of the merging of home life and work life. And its a shame that often women have male supervisors and bosses that may not really understand what the women are going through because theyre not mom chip only. As an economy reporter, you make the figures that we should you put faces on those figures. If you were going to tell us a story that helped us understand what those figures actually mean for households and women in families, what story would you tell us . Well yeah, the figures are astronomical, right . You said it 865000. 00 women this year in those 1st, few months of the pandemic. Some 11000000 women lost your jobs from february to may. Its difficult to understand just what a huge number this is and how this is affecting folks. So theres one story that really stands out to me. Theres a woman i spoke to earlier this year here in austin, texas. And shes a consultant. She has 2 sons. Her husband is a doctor. And early on in the pandemic in march, she was offered her dream job. I mean, talk about timing, right. So she was already dealing with the challenges of having her kids at home and realizing very quickly that this was not a sustainable situation for her family. So she had to turn that job down actually. And as the months wore on in the beginning of the year, she realized even the job that i have right now had a part time consulting position. Even though job i have right now is not sustainable. And you know, as the of the assignments you know, piled on for her sons, her husband was working with coal with patients. He was on the front lines. His job was certainly essential. And she started to realize, if were going to have to make a choice, its going to have to be me. And unfortunately, my job is central to who i am. Its not separate from who i am as a person. It gives me autonomy, independence, and she was facing for the 1st time in her life. The reality of having to let it go and wondering how long are the decisions that i make right now because of coping. 19, going to follow me into my professional future. Because i would love you to help us understand which is some of the holidays hate businesses, jobs, areas of the workforce where women are losing their job to have to give up their jobs. Im going to start by paying you a little clip from plane at pollini is from the National Domestic workers alliance. This is what she told us a little bit earlier and take a look. Domestic workers are house cleaners, nannies, and caregivers. By definition, the work is done from other peoples homes, so they dont have the option to work from home. This means a pandemic has had a unique impact on this workforce. Weve just released a report on the impact of covert under mastic workers over the past 6 months, which shows that at its worst, 7 out of 10 Domestic Workers had no jobs at all. More than half of respondents for 6 consecutive months, told us they were unable to pay their rent. Almost all Domestic Workers in the us are women, and 90 percent of those we surveyed are also the mothers of intl during the pandemic has been devastating for these women who were already working precarious jobs. And yet they are the essential workers that we depend on. You just pick up from where paulina left off about where is the hardest. 8 jobs as far as we mimic unsaid. So thank you so much. Im so glad to be here in a part of this conversation. So the 1st thing i want to say is that the code 19 and the job losses have had a disproportionate impact on lower wage workers and women of color. And thats because they are and sectors such as Leisure Hospitality restaurant they work in restaurants, education and health, the health care field. So those are the sectors that have been hardest hit. But its really important for us to know that its many of the women who have lost their jobs or were women who were earning less than 40000. 00 a year. And many of those were single bob. So and they have to leave their work in order their how their homes in order to get paid and also have care taking responsibility. So i want to be, when we are talking about this topic, really stretch ourselves to think about the different ways that this is impacting women in different sectors, especially women who are not 2, parent households. And, you know, facing different circumstances because in terms of whos being most most impacted it is, those workers, the Domestic Workers and the workers too are earning or in the lower wage jobs. Diane, we have not yet done it though i was going to say, you know, women of color also have less of a foundation when and when something so drastic as this recession happens. Right. So we know that black women, hispanic women, latinas are less likely are making less on the white male dollar than, than white women. We know that they have less than Household Savings of less in income in their household. They are far more likely to be the primary breadwinner. So these are people who are making impossible decisions. I mean, were talking about women who are sent home and dealing with children and that is on its own a enormous challenge. But think about also this other group of women who are making impossible decisions. Do i leave my kids at home and keep my job my at risk of losing my job . If i try to figure out something with child care and miss work, i mean these are, these are decisions that are really impossible. And so what were seeing is people, some people are leaving the labor force and some people are really trying to patch it together in any way that they can. But when a safety net falls through like it did this year, particularly with child care, its very difficult to find those solutions. I am just looking at a graph here, my laptop in this is put together by leaning dot org and mckinsey and it is comparing and contrasting how many are doing, how women are doing black and white in black when white women. And in every category, women are doing the worst. So he is the legend here, gray is excluded. Blue light blue pressured to work more. Fiber group is exhausted. So compared to fathers and mothers feeling excluded mothers up here ahead of fathers talking about being pressured to work more senior level men and senior level women here senior level when your senior level, when march higher for the more pressure to be. So work more and then being burned out, men down here, round about 30 percent were much higher just over 40 percent. It seems to me that what covert has done, and weve so many other issues as well is what we already knew about our society, about the country, about our communities is now underneath a magnifying glass. And the 4 guys are beginning to show even walk before dying. Well, one thing i was going to mention is that women do hold those disproportionate jobs that were affected in the sectors that were most of adversely impacted by the pandemic. They also are more likely to work part time jobs and to not have a salaried full time job. And what that means is that they did dont have jobs where they would normally be provided the benefits that you get with a full time salaried job. So these are workers that when they need to take time off, they cant get paid for it. When they need health care, they dont have Health Insurance coverage by their employer. So these are always the most precarious jobs to begin with. And the pandemic. The fact that weve had to women have had to stay at home or with the kids has just made it more and more precarious in terms of economic well being. So its time for the fact that, you know, women rely on other women and especially like schools. To be open and you know childcare, babysitters to help them out to help them maintain a work life. And now that schools are not open. Government really has left a hole like government was in directly supporting working women by supporting schools and helping schools open safely and watch the kids during the day. So i think its just showing that government needs to step in a lot more than they have been because i got a question for you from each of im going to get it. All right, most is the huge gap because of by gap. Do you mean the gap of women moving the workforce, a 165 god . Or is that that when we study that conversation, we were talking about how many more women are leaving the force that the what falls in the last 15 months compared to it is it is actually directly a result more directly, a result of the closers of schools and daycares across the country and there is no strategy at this stage, federal or local level to get schools opened. So i am also a single mother of 10 year old twins. And when the schools closed in march, i thought i could just hold on and just make it make it through the summer and then came and i was there kids are still out of school and its been just an Impossible Task to manage a 40 to 50 hour, week job, and also be now home schooling 2 year old twins. And i cannot imagine that burden for a lot of other mothers. And i feel very fortunate because i can work from home. But like i said, most women who have lost their jobs or struggling to make ends meet are not moms who can stay at home to work, to get paid. They have to leave the house. And so theyre making impossible decisions. And for many women, im going to become so when they have to choose between taking care of their kids and working, they choose to take care of their kids. How did, how did you manage that transition in the fall . Nicole . Im just wondering because a lot of the mothers that i spoke to at the beginning of the year were saying, we cant do this for a few months. We have no idea whats going to happen in the fall. How much longer were going to have to, to take on that burden. So im just curious how, how youve been managing it since School Started again, because obviously those numbers in september, thats when School Started again, thats when a lot of kids went back to School Virtually and at home. Its not, i dont think its a coincidence that we saw that huge drop off happen in september. Absolutely, i think youre absolutely right. And for me, i have to say for 3 weeks my kids were great. By the way, they did it, you know . But i blame the parents and the funny thing is we are the last thing i think when we all think that those jokes full, well you have mom with a while. So against the, although in a novel, the baby on her lap top on a scene meeting and then trying to do homework at the same time i thought is not sustainable. And we spoke to a number of women who have families and trying to keep their jobs at the same type. And this is what they shared with us have a lot. I was a full time and her up until april when i was laid off due to the 19 in the 6 months since then, ive realized that the possibility of me reentering full time work or worse is pretty difficult right now because my husband works outside the home and we have a young child who is in school and were one of the lucky families. Hes been able to hire a babysitter for 2 and a half days a week to cover house and assistance with virtual schooling for both children about leaves other 2 and a half days a week, where thats something that i have to cover. One of my sons has on his im so its a little bit more difficult for him to sit at the computer for long periods of time and focus. And with my business, about 90 percent of my clientele is for events. And so right now, with a very important decision to decide between my childrens education or going to pick up over another career and were just to provide for my family. So what grade would make of cave child care in america right now . Who would it be a c, a d failing grade, because that is, that is the issue here, isnt it . Its if, if mothers picking up the slack we got in childcare, how is childcare going to help parents . What play with making diet . I mean, i see a day. Yeah. Yeah. I think its generous. No little bit. Maybe a full time now. Yeah, i think im in there. Yeah. All right, so how algy way not like the 4 of us if it has solved this, but what, where were the issues with child care in america . When there are no ready . Because he stopped. The primary issue is that we really reported a pandemic. We didnt have a strong character structure and many were working. Mothers were struggling to figure it out on their own. And there was no support from either the federal government or employers and so prepared to make it and it just exposed broken. Thats the system and the need for a National Care infrastructure and employers, like i said, one of the 1st story that youd like it was pretty heartbreaking because i do feel in this moment in the absence of federal action. We employers do have a role to play in making sure that women cannot only really enter the workforce, but are able to sustain employment. And stories like are just heart breaking where women are really doing all they can to keep all the balls in the air. And theres a lack of support and understanding to that in child care, in america and examples where its actually blocking a Great Companies the there are great schemes where parents like thank goodness, this is helpful to me. You know, it, its hard to think of any because in reality what weve seen is an entire system collapse in a matter of a few months. And you know, like nicole said, child care has been a problem for a really long time of what did we have this year that was different because low income families have been dealing with this for a very long time. The difference this year was everyone was at home. Everyone was dealing with it across the socioeconomic spectrum. And so now you have a moment where child care is elevated into the National Consciousness because every family has to deal with it in some way. When you have one in 5 child care providers have lost their jobs this year, you have thousands of centers that have closed and this is an industry that is already really struggling. Its razor thin margins, right . The workers make around minimum wage of not less. If not a little bit more and that you have regulations insurance, overhead costs, it makes it very difficult to run this business. And so when Something Like this happens, it completely collapses. And so issues of how are we going to regulate this . The industry about insurance, about access in child care deserts of the country that barely have any supply. These are really, really big problems. That really theres no time like right now to address them. J w says i cant help but wonder if the pandemic schools and day can an incredibly weak economy amaze any families rethink having children thought is a pretty depressing thought right there, diane, i know that growing up kates, if you had younger kids looking quite so. So together, right now, about a way to apply that as well. Just happened 20 years ago to me when my kids were little i would have had to end my career at that point. I mean, and i think that in terms of you know, silver linings. You can find, find one here right now is i think that economists are starting to pay more attention to the essential function of the caregiving part of our economy. Which, you know, has never been properly valued by economists in terms of contributing to g. D. P. You know, a lot of caregiving work is either unpaid or vastly underpaid. And so i think the fact that caregiving is the foundation of our people, which means that its the foundation of our economy. I think were starting to realize that if we dont have a good character having infrastructure, the whole economy above it is going to crumble. And so i think that is good news in terms of opening economists eye to the reliance of our entire market based economy on women and caregiving. I want to, i think thats a great point because i spoke to an economist this year who just said, this is an issue of diversity and representation. We would not be in the situation that we are in right now. If there were more women economists, if there were more women of color in that industry, in that field, if there were more women in positions of power, right childcare would not be on the backburner. If that had happened then. So here we are now sort of reaping the unfortunate result of that. I also spoke to economists quite recently. Principle column is the Us Census Bureau a little bit earlier, and this is what she shared with the stream. Its almost like these figures are a warning. Now what are we getting . Have a listen to misty . It is generally just too much to bear for mothers to maintain increased informal labor work in the household and still work outside of the home. The longer this goes on, the more difficult it will be for these mothers to really get a can of labor force, which has the potential to exacerbate general inequality in the workforce. In the long run. Weve been given a very clear sign about what may happen with women in the workforce. So in the united states, guess i want to share this thought with you. This is from sarah sarah is on the cheap hi sarah, thanks for being part of our conversation. She says this pandemic only highlights gaps in gender inequality. I myself feel like im at a disadvantage as a young woman, the men at my workplace more. And im very worried that i will be laid off. Nichol advice for sarah. What would it be . There are. So somebody, the issues that you raise are really important ones, issues around pay equity and also economic preparer to your job security. And thats an issue that many women in the workforce, myself included, are struggling with you know, our whole careers, but even more so in this moment. So the only i dont know to device is the right word. But i think having the conversations and speaking out, and also engaging on the front lines that many of us here, im who are doing this work around pay equity and creating more equitable workplaces for women. My age, my big thought right now in this moment is that it really provides us an opportunity to think about a gender agricole recovery, an economy that works for women. Women are 50 percent of the workforce and we have not been treated no assets and employers and workplaces have not accommodated women in their needs in the workplace. And i think its about time that we start having those conversations about what women really need to be successful and ants in their careers. And we just havent had them say and diane, while still on this topic, do you feel that now that we know the numbers that the federal government will help women law . I think the federal government is going to focus a little bit more on the care infrastructure as nicole referred to. And the importance of investing adequately in that people infrastructure. If we really want to see our economy not just recover, but thrive in the future, is theres going to have to be some change about and some recognition of the value of the caregiving part of our economy. Diane, into belly and nicole really thank you so much for being part of this conversation. We appreciate you. And colby back on to Instagram Live acts 20 that day away wednesday. Yes, fantastic. I knew we had to talk to a little bit more why im plugging a stream of events. Look out for this 1 october the 30th at 2100 g. M. T. G. M. T. We will have a one hour episode. We will look at some of the big issues facing the u. S. Ahead of the president ial election. You are invited, you are pundits. I look forward to seeing you. Take everybody see you next time. Business leaders is for to find the brass pot. Business leaders is for to find the brass pot the us is deeply divided, the millions of americans feel disaffected and ignored by both Political Party and the Political Class is point scoring again is a dangerous game, but as a game of the sick list for kleins examines the political currents ripping through American Society in a description for a novel, the publisher would send it back and say, its too unbelievable. Trump versus biden, the race to the white house on a jersey. You know, if you want to help save the world, sneeze into your elbow. Hello, im Barbara Starr in london. These are the top stories on the World Health Organization has described europe as a cautionary tale of the dangers of easing coronavirus restrictions. The continent is experiencing an aggressive surge in infections with daily deaths steadily rising towards the peak of the 1st wave back in spring. Where than 50000, people have now died from covert 1000 across the u. K. Thats after another 595 fatalities were confirmed over the past 24 hours, marking the countrys highest daily best toll since may will