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Written by: Commentary Editing Room
2021-05-09 07:00
Last update date: 2021-05-09 07:00
With the continuous increase in confirmed cases of the variant virus, it is unknown whether this year’s Mother’s Day can be reunited.
Moreover, the epidemic has not only increased the difficulty of getting together on Mother’s Day, it has also increased the pressure on mothers as the main family caregiver over the past year.
The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups "Parents All Action Network" interviewed parents during the suspension of the epidemic. Nearly 60% of the respondents said that the epidemic often caused additional pressure, and 70% said it was difficult to deal with it.
The Hong Kong Boys' and Girls' Clubs Association's survey also reflects similar results. Nearly 50% of the parents interviewed were anxious or worried about the dominant emotions during the suspension of classes, and 40% of the parents' emotional and mental health reached a level that required attention.
What is more noteworthy is that the pressure of parents is also related to family background and economic situation.
The things mothers need to worry about and deal with under the epidemic have multiplied.
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Mothers at the grassroots level burst into pressure
A survey conducted by the Boys' and Girls' Clubs Association found that the emotional problems of grassroots and CSSA parents were more serious, with more than 40% and more than 60% of them reaching the level of concern.
This is not difficult to understand, because the grassroots industries such as renovation and maintenance, catering and service industries have higher unemployment rates.
And as the previous Oxfam report pointed out, the epidemic has increased the wealth disparity, including Hong Kong society, and the economic regression brought about by the epidemic is more reflected in the grassroots.
As a result, parents of grassroots families not only have to suspend school because of their children, they have to take on greater care responsibilities, but they also have to bear heavier financial pressure.
In addition to the economy, families with children with special needs have also increased their pressure in response to the suspension of social support under the epidemic.
The mother, as the main "caregiver" of most families, has become the last person to take over the pressures of family relationships, economic prospects, and children's education and care under the epidemic.
A survey by the Hong Kong Women’s Labor Association found that more than 90% of the women interviewed reported that the epidemic has aggravated their mental and emotional stress.
Since last year, there have been many tragedies in Hong Kong. For example, in September last year, a mother in Kwai Chung Village strangled a mentally handicapped child; in November, a 51-year-old depressed mother and a pair of children in Sham Tseng Long Chuiyuan laid their bodies at home; The son hanged himself to death after unsuccessful reasons, etc., all have shown that mothers who are the main caregivers of the family, especially mothers of grassroots and special children, are under pressure.
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The government should solve the urgent needs of mothers
Among them, women’s liberation, equality between men and women, and the government’s structural reform of economic unfair distribution, the construction of public housing and the increase of residential homes for the disabled are naturally related to long-term efforts. anxious.
For example, the establishment of unemployment assistance has been mentioned many times in the market, which can more specifically alleviate the anxiety of many grass-roots family mothers who are unable to cook without rice.
Grassroots families also have difficulties in obtaining epidemic prevention materials. Therefore, parents of grassroots families worry about their children's shortage of epidemic prevention materials, which is nearly 20% higher than that of ordinary families.
If the government can subsidize the corresponding families with anti-epidemic materials based on the book allowance, it can also alleviate the worries of the mothers of these families.
For children with special needs, although it may not be realistic to open the center as usual, seeing that so many mothers are already under pressure and causing tragedies, the government should consider methods such as online video to allow social workers to have more contact with such families and provide extra for children and mothers. Emotional support.
The government should even consider granting special allowances to these families during the epidemic, so that mothers can hire foreign aid and have a respite.
The epidemic has made Mother's Day full of variables.
For ordinary families, perhaps this is just a lost opportunity to accompany their mother to dinner, but they can still make up for their regrets through video or delaying the gathering.
However, for mothers with a weaker family economy and special care needs, the increased care and economic pressure brought by the epidemic may be an unbearable burden in their lives, and it is also a tragedy that society cannot tolerate again.
The government must adopt more phased support to alleviate the urgent needs of these mothers.
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