Boundaries blurred

Yao Yao, chief operating officer at ThoughtWorks China, a global software consulting company, said that with the boundaries between work and family becoming blurred due to the pandemic, women often make more "sacrifices" than men, such as moving a computer next to their children, while men tend to seek their own workspaces at home.

She said basic and low-paid jobs tend to go first when companies lay off workers. Women worldwide, who have long experienced unfair opportunities to develop their careers, tend to occupy these positions, and will naturally be more affected by layoffs.

Yao has also found that during the pandemic female employees are paying more attention than men to individuals' needs, and that her company is working on strategies to respond to the virus, such as preparing emergency supplies and making new work arrangements.

She said that people have become more depressed during the outbreak, as their movements have been restricted.

Yao has used her expertise in personal development coaching to support colleagues and has also organized online activities, including physical workouts, yoga classes and karaoke competitions.

She and her management team, which mainly comprises women, have been creative in making employees feel connected and in raising their spirits.

Yao said that during the pandemic many women are taking the opportunity to try new things. As an example, she cited an insurance broker who started to livestream her experiences and thoughts on children's education.

"Many confident women have become more resilient and have found opportunities to become stronger during the pandemic," she said.

She added that the outbreak has affected everyone, and it is more important than ever to care and support both genders and build strong connections among humanity, rather than overemphasize gender differences.