The silent war of the reservists’ wives

The past two years have turned family lives in Israel into another battlefield, an occupational and economic battlefield. These days, reservists are being called up again, and once again, the women are left behind. Women married to men who are called up bear the burden alone of household chores, raising children, and in many cases, the difficult economic consequences of a prolonged absence. This burden, which includes logistical, mental, and financial tasks, directly affects women’s ability to remain active in the labor market.

The data paints a clear picture: the average salary of men is 54% higher than that of women, and the median salary of men (12,370 NIS) is 40% higher than that of women (8,853 NIS).

This is complemented by recent data from a Central Bureau of Statistics survey on the wives of reserve service members: 30% of employed women reported a harm to their salary, 73% of self-employed women reported a harm to their business, and 34% of the wives of reservists reported financial difficulties as a result of their service. This data reflects a difficult daily reality for thousands of families.

This means that even in normal times, women earn less than men, and when their spouse is called up for military service, this gap widens and becomes a real economic trap. As the war continues, the gender gaps in the labor market only grow. Women are forced to stop or slow down their careers and find it more difficult to return to quality jobs and promotion paths.

This means that what was previously a “fixed” wage gap could become an irreducible gap. The lack of a systemic approach to the problem creates a process of professional burnout that will be very difficult to correct in the future. This is not only a threat to individual women, but to equal opportunities and the economic resilience of the entire economy.

This is not a “private problem” of the families of reservists. It is a social and economic problem. When we abandon women to deal alone with leaving jobs, being laid off, or going months without a source of income, we create a persistent social phenomenon that creates poverty, job insecurity, and burnout.

This result is a negative vicious circle, as the family income is affected, it puts greater pressure on the woman to bear the burden of work and care at home, which further harms her career. The social costs of this process are enormous, and include a decline in productivity, widening social gaps and a direct damage to the social resilience of the country.

At the same time, within this crisis there is also an opportunity. Both employers and the state can choose not to see the women who have been left behind as a burden, but as a resource that needs to be developed. Proactive investment in professional training, in promoting women to higher wages, and in making managerial positions accessible can turn the emergency period into a lever for profound social change.

If the state builds a dedicated program and encourages employers to take an active part, it is possible not only to prevent deterioration – but also to strengthen the labor market and reduce historical gaps. The first step is recognition of shared responsibility and the understanding that the socio-economic resilience of the State of Israel is directly dependent on the socio-economic resilience of women in the country.

A systemic solution is needed, including employment guidance for wives of reservists, professional training, adjustments in the labor market, and incentives for employers. Not just a gesture of appreciation, but a real plan that will allow them to return to the labor market, maintain a stable income, and avoid economic decline.

If we treat this as a moment of public responsibility, we can turn what currently appears to be an ongoing crisis into a step forward towards creating a more just and equitable labor market. Protecting the rights and economic status of home front women is not charity, but a national imperative that will ensure the future of Israeli society. If the State of Israel wants to maintain its socio-economic resilience, it must not leave women alone in the struggle.