G ENDER M ANAGEMENT G ENDER ISSUES IN DISASTERS. M AGNITUDE OF DISASTERS 56% of people killed by...
-
Upload
letitia-hunt -
Category
Documents
-
view
216 -
download
0
description
Transcript of G ENDER M ANAGEMENT G ENDER ISSUES IN DISASTERS. M AGNITUDE OF DISASTERS 56% of people killed by...
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