The 'shecession': why economic crisis is affecting women more than men

From February to May, 11.5 million women lost their jobs compared with 9 million men - underlining how women are more vulnerable to sudden losses of income

Denise Frederick hasn't stopped working since the pandemic began. But the nanny and home carer in New York City has also seen her pay cut in both jobs and she is uncertain about how long she will have either with the coronavirus outbreak far from under control.

Like many women, the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic has hit Frederick hard. For the first time in history, the US is in a shecession" - an economic downturn where job and income losses are affecting women more than men.

Related: Plan to slash $600 lifeline threatens misery for millions of Americans

We didn't do enough in the 2008 recession to make sure there was an even recovery

The cracks in our system that were here before the pandemic have now become catastrophes

This article was amended on 4 August 2020 to correct a fact about primary caregivers.