Pandemic leaves Hong Kong women stressed by caregiving, household chores and husbands who say ‘that’s your job, not mine’

Time to drop notions of ‘male, female roles’ and start sharing household chores, experts say

Men too often avoid helping at home as entrenched gender stereotypes put unfair burden on women, according to advocates

Reading Time:5 minutes

Published: 8:00am, 4 Jul 2020Updated: 4:21pm, 18 Dec 2020

Housewife Amy Leung, 38, has found herself overwhelmed during the Covid-19 pandemic, taking care of two young children, cooking, cleaning and disinfecting.

Her husband, a civil servant in his 40s, has a short fuse and is given to nitpicking. He does not help care for their five-year-old son or their one-year-old daughter, or do any housework.

“Every time I complained and asked him to help, he accused me of being unreasonable and said these chores were what I should do as a woman and mother,” she says.

Having quit her clerical job three years ago to stay home, she relies on her husband financially. She says he criticises her constantly for not doing enough and picks quarrels, which sometimes lead to pushes and shoves.

The Covid-19 pandemic has intensified existing gender inequalities, advocates say. Photo: Sam Tsang

Leung says she has been feeling pressured, especially during the pandemic, with her husband now at home more. But she has no one to turn to.

She is not alone. Advocates for women’s rights say the Covid-19 pandemic has intensified existing gender inequalities and made life harder for Hong Kong women bearing a disproportionate burden at home. Some have also suffered increased domestic violence.

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