Worked over by pandemic, these women reach for recovery
Most accounts of the pandemic鈥檚 effect on women focus on career losses and the depth of the setback. Our new podcast centers on stories of resilience, reinvention, and hope.
The American workforce 鈥� like most around the world 鈥� was hit hard by the pandemic. But more than any other demographic, women bore the brunt of the losses. Not only were professional women set back, 30 years by some estimates, but they were also leaned on heavily to figure out the chaos of pandemic life for everyone.听
In our new podcast, 鈥淪tronger,鈥� reporters Jessica Mendoza and Samantha Laine Perfas follow six women in Las Vegas, one of the hardest hit economies in the country. Each woman shares her unique pandemic story, covering everything from job loss, burnout, and Zoom fatigue to the strength, resilience, and hope that keep them moving forward. In many ways, they hope that what they鈥檝e learned during this time can be a lesson for all of us.
鈥淪ome things do really need to change,鈥� says Yarleny Roa-Dugan, a labor and delivery nurse featured in the series.
Mariza Rocha, a utility porter at The STRAT Hotel and Casino, adds: 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want it to be normal. I want it to be better than before.鈥�
This is a trailer for our podcast 鈥淪tronger,鈥� which highlights what women have lost to this pandemic and how they鈥檙e winning it back. To learn more about the podcast and find other episodes, please聽visit our page.听
Episode transcript
Samantha Laine Perfas: Hey everyone, welcome to another episode of 鈥淩ethinking the News.鈥� I鈥檓 Samantha Laine Perfas.
Jessica Mendoza: And I鈥檓 Jessica Mendoza. Today, we鈥檙e super excited to announce a new podcast from 海角大神. It鈥檚 called 鈥淪tronger.鈥澛�
Laine Perfas: As you know, in 鈥淩ethinking the News鈥� we take a look at news items big and small and consider how they might change the way we think about the world. Our podcast, 鈥淪tronger,鈥� does just that, by looking at the effects of the pandemic on women and work.听
Mendoza: Most stories about women throughout the pandemic have been about job losses, the pressures of being a mom, and generally how bad it鈥檚 been. In 鈥淪tronger鈥� we decided to focus on stories of resilience, reinvention, and hope.
Laine Perfas: We hope you鈥檒l take a listen. We鈥檒l be publishing all six episodes of the series right here on 鈥淩ethinking the News,鈥� but you can also find the series by going to csmonitor.com/stronger. Or find us wherever you get your podcasts.听
Mendoza: In the meantime, here is the teaser for 鈥淪tronger.鈥� Enjoy!
[Music]
Laine Perfas:聽It鈥檚 almost hard to believe that we鈥檙e here. After more than a year of fear, stress, and anxiety, we鈥檙e starting to come back from the pandemic.听
[Music]
Mendoza: But hold on. There鈥檚 still a lot to process about what we all just lived through.
Laine Perfas:聽That鈥檚 especially true for the people who were affected the most. And when we talk about jobs and the economy, almost nobody had it worse than women.听
[Music]
Laine Perfas:聽I鈥檓 Samantha Laine Perfas.
Mendoza: I鈥檓 Jessica Mendoza. We鈥檙e reporters with 海角大神. This is 鈥淪tronger.鈥�
[Music]
Laine Perfas:聽聽As the US climbs out of the pandemic, we bring you stories from six women in Las Vegas, one of the hardest hit economies in the country. What did they lose to the pandemic 鈥� and how are they winning it back?
Mendoza: We get real personal about all the things that have made the pandemic so hard for women everywhere.
Laine Perfas:聽Like losing jobs 鈥撀�
惭别苍诲辞锄补:听鈥� or stressing out over them 鈥撀�
Laine Perfas:聽聽鈥撀爐aking care of their families 鈥撀�
Mendoza:聽鈥� and surviving the pandemic itself.
[Music]
Laine Perfas:聽聽But because lives are complicated and nuanced, there were still things that made us laugh.
Mendoza:聽And inspired us 鈥�
[Music]
惭别苍诲辞锄补:听This pandemic is a collective trauma.
Laine Perfas:聽聽But it鈥檚 also a reminder that we as a society can do better, together.
[Music]
惭别苍诲辞锄补:听The series launches on July 12th. Be sure to subscribe to 鈥淪tronger鈥� wherever you get your podcasts! Or visit us at csmonitor.com/stronger.
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