Were they Enough? Cal Relief Grants Battling Gendered Unemployment in the Pandemic

Erin Hamill, Political Science, Class of 2023

Internship Office: Senator Mike McGuireResearch

The Covid-19 pandemic, unlike past economic downturns, has had a disproportionate effect on women in both the employment and ownership sector. California has poured billions into the economic recovery of its businesses, but that still hasn't been enough to help all businesses, as many continued to suffer and face closures. This blogpost will highlight the ways the Cal relief grants continued to allow many businesses to slip through the cracks and the trickle down effect that had on female unemployment and business ownership during the pandemic.