Science & Tech
Why pandemic was "perfect storm" for violence against women: Dr. Okito Wedi

Why Pandemic Was "Perfect Storm" for Violence Against Women: Dr. Okito Wedi | GZERO Media

Gender-based violence tends to jump in any emergency situation, and the pandemic was no different. During COVID-related lockdowns around the world, Creative Development CEO Dr. Okito Vanessa Wedi says the home was no safe space for women. "Preexisting toxic social norms, together with actually being in a pandemic, losses of jobs, anxiety about the future [and] the restriction of movement" all created a "perfect storm" that turned partners into abusers.
She spoke during "Measuring what matters: How women are critical to pandemic recovery," a livestream conversation on October 28, 2021, hosted by GZERO Media in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
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How do the choices of the past help us navigate the future? Microsoft's new video series explores pivotal moments in US history and the decisions that helped shape innovation, opportunity, and progress. By connecting historical turning points to today's technology and policy questions, the series offers a perspective on the choices that continue to shape what comes next. Watch the first episode here.