Navigating multiple pandemics: A critical analysis of the impact of COVID-19 policy responses on gender-based violence services

• Published in: Critical social policy Vol. 43; no. 1; pp. 29 - 50
• Main Authors: Mantler, Tara, Wathen, C. Nadine, Burd, Caitlin, MacGregor, Jennifer C. D., McLean, Isobel, Veenendaal, Jill
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.02.2023; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: COVID-19; Description; Gender-based violence; Pandemics; Policy making; COVID-19; multiple pandemics; gender-based violence; interpretive description
• ISSN: 0261-0183; 1461-703X
• DOI: 10.1177/02610183221088461

COVID-19 illustrated what governments can do to mobilise against a global threat. Despite the strong governmental response to COVID-19 in Canada, another ‘pandemic’, gender-based violence (GBV), has been causing grave harm with generally insufficient policy responses. Using interpretive description methodology, 26 interviews were conducted with shelter staff and 5 focus groups with 24 executive directors (EDs) from GBV service organizations in Ontario, Canada. Five main themes were identified and explored, namely that: (1) there are in fact four pandemics at play; (2) the interplay of pandemics amplified existing systemic weaknesses; (3) the key role of informal partnerships and community support, (4) temporary changes in patterns of funding allocation; and (5) exhaustion as a consequence of addressing multiple and concurrent pandemics. Implications and recommendations for researchers, policy makers, and the GBV sector are discussed.