.png){kind=icon}
Women of lockdown – how was it for you?
Posted by Claire Boote, on July 22, 2020.
Estimated reading time: 1 minute(s)
Since the UK went into lockdown in late March, most women have spent the majority of time at home. Some have been shielding, some have been working from home for the first time, some have been home-schooling their children – we’ve all had difference experiences. As we ease out of lockdown and into the “new normal” now is a good time to reflect. So, how was it for you?
Feel like a 1950s housewife?
Even though working from home has allowed many men to share the burden of childcare and household chores, recent studies have shown that lockdown has actually reinforced old gender roles, pushing equality back 20 or so years.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies and the UCL Institute of Education found that mothers were 47 per cent more likely to have permanently lost their job or quit, and 14 per cent were more likely to have been furloughed since the start of the crisis. A study revealed how women will be among those most affected economically as they are employed in sectors that have shut down – such as the hospitality and retail sectors. With no job to ‘work from home’ for, many women have been left picking up the slack in terms of home-schooling and childcare.
Does this sound familiar to you?
Click here to send us your story or share with us on our Facebook or Instagram pages.
Regaining 20 years of women’s equality will take more than treating yourself to some new lingerie – but, for now, it’s a good place to start! If you’ve found yourself run ragged lately, we think these lingerie sets, with their stylish detailing and super-comfortable fit, will be the pick-me-up you need.
Feeling Fitter?
For some, lockdown has sparked a personal fitness revolution. A mixture of more time at home, perhaps fewer hours working or commuting, plus boredom and cabin fever has propelled many of us off the sofa and in front of online fitness classes or running our local streets and parks.
On the flipside, Sport England has revealed concerning news that fewer women than men have been taking part in sport since lockdown began, with only 30% of women doing the recommended amount of exercise a week. It’s thought that this is partly down to women taking on all the extra home/family-based chores (see above!), but also down to the closure of indoor fitness centres (80% of fitness class participants are women).
Does this sound familiar to you?
Click here to send us your story or share with us on our Facebook or Instagram pages.
With indoor gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools finally given the go-ahead to open this month, here’s hoping that more women can access their favourite fitness activity again.
In celebration, pack your gym bag with a fresh new sports bra. We recommend our cotton-rich Impact Free bras for low to medium activity, or our Adjustable Fit with its adjustable racer back, specifically-designed for smaller frames. And don’t forget to make room in your kit for our forthcoming ‘game-changer’, the Aerocool, the UK’s first high-impact, wirefree sports bra for G-K cups – available later this year.
Feeling lonely?
Lack of social interaction during lockdown has affected everyone. But new research from the University of Essex has found that one third of UK women have suffered loneliness in lockdown, compared to 23 per cent of men.
The strictest days of lockdown meant women were cut off from their familiar support networks of family and friends, work colleagues and other mothers. This has been particularly hard for those living on their own, particularly if shielding due to advanced age or underlying health conditions.
Now lockdown is easing, you may have moved into a ‘support bubble’, or tentatively had a few socially-distanced meet-ups with friends and family. For some, socialising again may feel strange with confusing rules and continuing anxiety. Some charities have reminded us not to forget that many people still live on their own and may continue to need help and support during this strange time.
Does this sound familiar to you?
Click here to send us your story or share with us on our Facebook or Instagram pages.
We know that many of our loyal customers aren’t yet ready to venture to the shops, or don’t feel safe enough to socialise. That’s why we offer an expert remote fitting service, and we’ve continued our 12-week free returns policy. Also, don’t forget to join the conversation with the warm, supportive and friendly women on our social media platforms; Instagram and Facebook, where we also run regular competitions such as #ShowUsYourMasks (best mask of the week wins a £100 Royce Lingerie voucher!).
So, here’s to the women of lockdown. Well done for getting through the toughest part. Let’s get ready for the “new normal”!
