GENDER MANAGEMENT

GENDER ISSUES IN DISASTERS

MAGNITUDE OF DISASTERS

56% of people killed by disasters across the world lived in South Asia

(World Disaster Report, 2002)

90% of natural disasters & 95% of disaster-related deaths world wide occur in developing countries

By 2025, 80% of world’s population estimated to live in

developing countries 60% of them will be vulnerable to disasters

(Sahni, Dhameja & Mcdury, 2001)

VULNERABILITY TO DISASTERS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Poverty, caste, ethnicity, age, gender are factors affecting people’s vulnerability

Physical vulnerabilities Social vulnerabilities Attitudinal vulnerabilities

PHYSICAL VULNERABILITIES

Hazard prone locations of settlementInsecure and risky sources of

livelihood Lack of access to basic production

resources (land, farm, inputs, capital)Lack of knowledge and information Lack of access to basic services

SOCIAL VULNERABILITIES

Lack of institutional support structures and leadership

Division and conflicts within communities

Restricted decision making Weak kinship relations

ATTITUDINAL VULNERABILITIES

Dependency

Resistance to change

Other negative beliefs

PERSPECTIVES TO DISASTERSDominant

perspective Disasters/ conflicts

viewed as isolated events

Linkages with conditions in society during normal times not always analyzed

Alternative perspective Disasters/ conflicts

seen as part of development process

Analysis of linkages with society during normal times is necessary (Ariyabandu & Wickremasinghe, 2005)

Dominant perspective

Emphasis on technical/ law and order solutions

Aim of intervention is to return to situation before event

Does not address different vulnerabilities of men and women

Alternative perspective

Emphasis on solutions that change structures/ relationships.

Disasters/ conflicts viewed as opportunities for social transformation

Builds in gender perspective

WHY AND HOW IS GENDER RELEVANT? Socio-cultural construction Social reality overplays biological differences Gender refers to way men and women are

perceived, evaluated and expected to behave Responsibilities and roles Characteristics and conduct Appearance and dress codes

Gender disparities in indicators of human development -- HDI, GDI, GPI

GENDER SENSITIVE APPROACH TO DISASTERS

Recognizing different vulnerabilities of men and women Though men too may face severe disadvantages, they

do not experience gender discrimination Gender factors increase risk for girls and women

Identifying capacities

GENDER FACTORS INCREASING RISK FOR WOMEN

Child birth and pregnancy- related health limitations Mobility limitations Greater risk of domestic and sexual violence More likely to be economically dependent Less access to credit Fewer land rights Less control over labour More often employed as part-time, in free-trade zones More responsibility for care-giving Higher illiteracy rates, lower levels of schooling Less personal autonomy and decision-making power

IMPACT OF DISASTERS ON MEN AND WOMEN -- REALITIES

FOR SOUTH ASIA

Differences in Social and cultural impacts Economic impacts Psychological impacts

DIFFERENCES IN SOCIAL AND CULTURAL IMPACTS

Increase of female-headed households Attitudes of male preference Greater burden of care giving and domestic

responsibilities Social marginalization of widows Less access to relief supplies and resources

DIFFERENCES IN ECONOMIC IMPACTS Greater lack of income opportunities for

women Loss of women’s assets Increasing economic dependency on men Increased suffering among vulnerable

Forced to prostitution, begging

DIFFERENCES IN PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACTS

Women as frontline responders and caregivers Helplessness and depression

Anxiety stems from perception of risk/fear to family

Sense of entrapment and lack of options Strongest effects for PTSD

Women’s rates exceed men’s by 2:1 Postpartum strain when disasters strike

immediately after childbirth Increase in violence against women

IDENTIFICATION OF CAPACITIES

Challenging stereotypes – women as helpless victims Recognizing women’s roles in rescue operations as

sustainers and re-builders Gender-based differences in community

preparedness Using indigenous knowledge Preparing households Protecting assets Sharing of information and warnings through informal

networks Rebuilding after disorder

Coping as disaster strikes Providing nursing care Collecting and storing water Collection of food, cooking the next meal

LACK OF GENDER SENSITIVITY IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT

Invisibility and stereotyping of women Inadequate security results in increasing

gender-specific risks Denial of specific needs Lack of sensitivity towards alleviating

women’s roles results in worsening the workload

Lack of awareness about legal and cultural discrimination results in denial of rights

AGENDA FOR CHANGE Recognition of women’s practical gender needs

denial of work opportunities, cooked food, secure shelter, water, fuel etc.

Recognition of women’s strategic gender needs personal security, freedom from domestic violence,

educational opportunities, legal rights etc. Inclusive processes of monitoring and evaluation

by sharing information with all stakeholders Gender disaggregated disaster risks and need

analysis Equitable gender representation in all aspects of

disaster management and planning

THANK YOU