Inequalities Among Political Scientists: Race and Gender Relations During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study examines the division of labor among political scientists during different periods of the COVID-19 pandemic. The article explores the hypothesis that the pandemic increased inequalities, especially by exacerbating the burden of housework and care responsibilities for women. We ground our analysis on the results of two surveys conducted in Brazil: one shortly after the onset of the pandemic in June 2020;and the other, more recently, from March 2022, after the ending of social-distancing measures. Brazil is a relevant case study because it was an epicenter of the virus for many months. This public health crisis occurred while a denialist and authoritarian government was in power. Considering gender and race variables, the data show a transformation of the dynamics of time organization during the period. At the beginning of the pandemic, men-primarily white men-devoted more time to academic work;in 2022, the most substantive difference was one of race. We observed a greater convergence among white people, as opposed to Black people, about household chores, with the latter group more overloaded than the former group. Traditional class and race inequalities concerning the Brazilian population can contribute to the explanation for this. When in-person work returned, white political scientists began to outsource domestic care more than their nonwhite counterparts.

Social Sciences In The Covid-19 Pandemic: Work Routines And Inequalities

The purpose of this text is to analyze the consequences of the covid-19 pandemic in the academic work routines of Social Sciences in Brazil. The study is based on the results of a survey disseminated with the support of professional associations in Anthropology, Political Science, Sociology and International Relations. The article presents the profile of the 1,073 participants and their perceptions about the effects of the crisis on training, teaching and research activities, as well as on the division of tasks in the private sphere. Although most respondents said they felt negative impacts of the pandemic, there are disparities by discipline, gender and race. The data reinforce the importance of discussing productivity evaluation parameters sensitive to inequalities. © 2021. All Rights Reserved.