A gender-based pandemic? COVID-19 and attitudes towards gender and relief policies in South Korea

Existing research has demonstrated that women have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic due to heightened socio-economic challenges. However, studies examining the rise of conservatism during this period remain limited. This study explores attitudes towards gender equality in South Korea throughout the pandemic, focusing on the relationship between pandemic-related hardships and views on traditional gender norms, as well as perceptions of gender-related COVID-19 relief policies. Using an original survey conducted in South Korea in 2022, we argue that, at the individual level, greater life difficulties during the pandemic correlate with stronger support for traditional gender norms. At the policy level, we hypothesize a negative correlation between beliefs about preferential treatment of women and support for COVID-19 relief measures aimed at addressing gender inequality in employment. Moreover, we assert that men are less likely to support such policies due to perceptions of group threat. Our findings suggest that the pandemic has not only curtailed women's employment opportunities but has also deepened economic insecurities and reinforced gendered attitudes, creating further challenges for women in South Korea.