Abstract Health pandemics affect women and men differently, and they can make the existing gender inequalities much worse. COVID-19 is one such pandemic, which can have substantial gendered implications both during and in the post-pandemic world. Its economic and social consequences could deepen the existing gender inequalities and roll back the limited gains made in respect of women empowerment in the past few decades. The impending global recession, multiple trade restrictions, economic lockdown, and social distancing measures can expose vulnerabilities in social, political, and economic systems, which, in turn, could have a profound impact on women’s participation in trade and commerce. The article outlines five main reasons that explain why this health pandemic has put women employees, entrepreneurs, and consumers at the frontline of the struggle. It then explores how free trade agreements can contribute in repairing the harm in the post-pandemic world. In doing so, the author sheds light on various ways in which the existing trade agreements embrace gender equality considerations and how they can be better prepared to help minimize the pandemic-inflicted economic loss to women.

中文翻译：

---

处于 COVID-19 前线的女性：自由贸易协定中的性别主流化有帮助吗？

摘要 健康流行病对女性和男性的影响不同，它们可能使现有的性别不平等更加严重。COVID-19 就是这样一种大流行病，它在大流行期间和大流行后世界都可能产生重大的性别影响。其经济和社会后果可能会加深现有的性别不平等，并使过去几十年在赋予妇女权力方面取得的有限成果倒退。即将到来的全球衰退、多重贸易限制、经济封锁和社会疏远措施可能暴露社会、政治和经济体系的脆弱性，进而可能对妇女参与贸易和商业产生深远的影响。这篇文章概述了五个主要原因，可以解释为什么这种健康大流行使女性雇员、企业家、和处于斗争前线的消费者。然后探讨自由贸易协定如何有助于修复大流行后世界的伤害。在此过程中，作者阐明了现有贸易协定以各种方式纳入性别平等考虑因素，以及它们如何更好地准备以帮助最大程度地减少流行病对妇女造成的经济损失。