“Happily tired”: A descriptive qualitative study of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women academics in Qatar

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted existing gender inequalities and inequities in academia, such as unequal workload distribution and insufficient recognition of women's scientific and institutional contributions. This study aimed to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women academics in Qatar. We employed a descriptive qualitative design and conducted semi-structured interviews with 17 participants from government and semi-government higher education institutions. We used the intersectionality framework to examine how various social identities interacted to influence the impact of the pandemic. Thematic analysis revealed a range of positive and negative impacts on the professional and personal lives of women, personal and institutional moderating factors, and coping strategies. We conclude that higher education institutions need to develop systems and structures to reduce existing gender inequities and mitigate the inequitable impact of emergencies and disasters.