Beyond the virus : multidisciplinary and international perspectives on inequalities raised by COVID-19

As the COVID-19 pandemic has unfolded, stark social inequalities have increasingly been revealed and, in many cases, been exacerbated by the global health crisis. This book explores these inequalities, identifying three thematic strands: power and governance, gender and marginalized communities. By examining these three themes in relation to the effects of the pandemic, the book uncovers how unequal the pandemic truly is. It brings together invaluable insights from a range of international scholars across multiple disciplines to critically analyse how these inequalities have played out in the context of COVID-19 as a first step towards achieving social justice. Front Cover Series page Beyond The Virus: Multidisciplinary and International Perspectives on Inequalities Raised by COVID-19 Copyright information Table of Contents Series Editor Preface List of Figures, Tables and Boxes Notes on Contributors Acknowledgements Foreword Part I Introduction Beyond the Virus: Perspectives on Power, Gender and Marginalization Introduction Streams of inequality Power and governance Gender Marginalized communities Diverse voices: international and multidisciplinary approaches Chapter outline Interim conclusions References Part II Power and Governance 1 Beyond Liberty: A Republican Perspective on COVID-19 Restrictions and the Politics of Freedom The libertarian objection Liberty reconceptualized A Republican objection Conclusion References 2 Beyond Authority and Governance in Israel during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Crumbling of Solidarity and the Rise of Social Inequalities Introduction Sociodemographic background On solidarity Legal and other responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel Legal responses to the pandemic Other responses to the pandemic Discussions in parliament: policy considerations and theoretical themes Public health Human rights The role of the law Analysis Conclusion References 3 Mitigating Social Inequities in Quebec: Governance Law to the Rescue? Introduction Governing during a public health emergency School closings: addressing food insecurity inequalities through community-based governance Curfew: addressing inequalities by tailoring the law to the populations concerned Mitigation measures for victims of domestic violence Mitigation measures for people experiencing homelessness Discussion Conclusion References Part III Gender 4 (In)Equality, Expertise and the COVID-19 Crisis: An Intersectional Analysis Introduction Literature review Methodology Analysis Conclusion References 5 Beyond COVID-19 Lockdown Compliance: A Gender Analysis Introduction Overview of the data Dependent variable Independent and control variables Independent variable: gender Socio-demographic controls COVID-19 specific controls Overview of the qualitative data Does gender matter for compliance with COVID-19 restrictions? Why are women less likely to comply with household mixing rules? The interdependency of caring arrangements Compounding of caring obligations Concern for the welfare of dependents Conclusion References Part IV Marginalized Communities 6 Beyond Privacy: South Korea’s Digital Technology-led Policy on COVID-19 and Its Impact on Human Rights Introduction K-Quarantine: Korean government’s policy against COVID-19 Amendment of relevant laws COVID-19 policy in South Korea: Test-Trace-Treat approach using digital technology Impacts on human rights Digital surveillance resulting in a loss of privacy Discrimination and stigmatization Conclusion References 7 Business as Usual: Inequality and Health Litigation during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil Introduction Inequality and the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil Health litigation before and during COVID-19: a right to everything What happened during COVID-19? A right to nothing: the right to health in Brazilian prison facilities What happened during the pandemic? Conclusion References 8 Beyond the Rhetoric of Essentiality: Canada’s Neoliberal Migrant Worker Policy during the COVID-19 Pandemic Introduction Language of ‘essential workers’ and migrant workers’ access to COVID-19 related healthcare Concerns about ‘essential industries’ and migrant workers’ occupational safety and income protection Pursuit of ‘essential citizens’ and migrant workers’ access to permanent residency Conclusion References Part V Conclusion Beyond the Virus, Towards Social Justice Reactive responses to the pandemic Laws, rules and regulation masking inequalities Alternative forms of governance Going ‘beyond the virus’ ... Hidden inequalities and the importance of intersectionality ... Towards social justice References Index Stark social inequalities have been revealed and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This book explores these inequalities through three thematic strands: power and governance, gender, and marginalized communities. Through its examination, the book uncovers how unequal the pandemic truly is.