Preprint / Version 1

Uniting Against Climate-Induced Natural Disasters, Such as Displacement, Reproductive Health Challenges, and Violence, on Marginalized Women Through Women’s Empowerment, Education, and Leadership

##article.authors##

  • Sanya Shah Student

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58445/rars.829

Keywords:

Environmental Justice, Climate Change, Natural Disasters, Women's Right

Abstract

This article reviews the impacts of climate change on BIPOC women globally through the lenses of displacement, reproductive health issues, and mental and physical violence. Opportunities to navigate climate change impacts are presented through education, leadership, and empowerment while providing real-life examples of women showing hope and resilience in the face of hurricanes, wildfires, and floods. Given that women of color (BIPOC) already confront numerous obstacles, climate change exacerbates these challenges, making it increasingly difficult for them to inhabit safe, comfortable environments. They face heightened risks, including the constant threat of catastrophic events, adverse health impacts, the need to evacuate their homes, and a higher likelihood of encountering severe violence. As evident from both social and historical evidence, this specific population of marginalized women faces challenges in preparing for and recovering from natural disasters. Recognizing the complexity of the problem, it is clear that women themselves must be integral in driving change, with various approaches available to tackle this pressing concern. 

References

Asaka, and Asaka Okai/ UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director. “Women Are Hit Hardest in Disasters, so Why Are Responses Too Often Gender-Blind?: United Nations Development Programme.” UNDP, March 24, 2022. https://www.undp.org/blog/women-are-hit-hardest-disasters-so-why-are-responses-too-often-gender-blind/.

CDP. “Women and Girls in Disasters.” Center for Disaster Philanthropy, April 20, 2022. https://disasterphilanthropy.org/resources/women-and-girls-in-disasters/.

CDstraight Media - The Green Belt Movement, September 27, 2022. https://www.greenbeltmovement.org/.

Christina Kwauk. “Why Is Girls’ Education Important for Climate Action?” Brookings, February 10, 2021. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/why-is-girls-education-important-for-climate-action.

“Climate Change Indicators: Wildfires | US EPA.” Climate Change Indicator, July 21, 2023. https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-wildfires/.

Crimmins, Megan. “How Climate Change Impacts Each Type of Natural Disaster.” PBS. September 7, 2022. https://www.pbs.org/wnet/peril-and-promise/2022/09/how-climate-change-impacts-each-type-of-natural-disaster/.

Donner, William, and Havidán Rodríguez. “Disaster Risk and Vulnerability: The Role and Impact of Population and Society.” PRB, January 8, 2011. https://www.prb.org/resources/disaster-risk/.

Dhar, Vilas, Tara Chklovski, and Yolanda Botti-Lodovico. “5 Reasons Why Empowering Women and Girls Can Revolutionize the Fight Against Climate Change.” World Economic Forum, May 31, 2023. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/05/5-reasons-empower-women-fight-against-climate-change/.

Dreyfuss, Emily. “Here’s a Way to Fight Climate Change: Empower Women.” Wired, December 3, 2018. https://www.wired.com/story/heres-a-way-to-fight-climate-change-empower-women/.

Dunne, Daisy. “Mapped: How Climate Change Disproportionately Affects Women’s Health.” How Climate Change Impacts Women's Health, October 29, 2020. https://www.carbonbrief.org/mapped-how-climate-change-disproportionately-affects-womens-health/.

Earth Observatory. “World of Change: Global Temperatures.” Earth Observatory. Accessed September 5, 2023. https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/world-of-change/global-temperatures/.

EJF. “Inequality Is Worsening as Climate Crisis Deepens: New Report.” Environmental Justice Foundation, June 8, 2022. https://ejfoundation.org/news-media/inequality-is-worsening-as-climate-crisis-deepens-new-report/.

“EPA Report Shows Disproportionate Impacts of Climate Change on Socially Vulnerable Population of US.” EPA, September 2, 2021. https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-report-shows-disproportionate-impacts-climate-change-socially-vulnerable/.

“FEMA Will Help Thousands of People Displaced by Wildfires on Maui.” NPR, August 11, 2023. https://www.npr.org/2023/08/11/1193393688/fema-will-help-thousands-of-people-displaced-by-wildfires-on-maui/.

Fletschner, Diana, and Lisa Kenney. “Rural Women’s Access to Financial Services - Food and Agriculture.” March 2011. https://www.fao.org/3/am312e/am312e.pdf/.

Firger, Jessica. “Hurricanes Like Irma Increase Risk for Sexual Assault.” Newsweek, September 10, 2017. https://www.newsweek.com/hurricane-irma-shelters-sexual-assault-violence-shelters-662558/.

General Secretary. “UN Official Documents.” United Nations, January 4, 2022. https://www.un.org/en/delegate/page/un-official-documents/.

Gunn, Meghan, Kerri Anne Renzulli and Ned Potter. “Disrupting Climate Change: 13 Tech Innovators Helping to Save the Planet.” Newsweek, May 10, 2023. https://www.newsweek.com/2023/05/19/disrupting-climate-change-13-tech-innovators-helping-save-planet-1799067.html/.

Henry, Daja E., and Jessica Kutz. “Mothers of the Movement: Black Environmental Justice Activists Reflect On The Women Who Have Paved the Way.” The 19th, February 17, 2023. https://19thnews.org/2023/02/black-environmental-justice-activists-leaders-mentors/.

“IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C Expert Review.” IPCC Special Report on Global Warming, October 28, 2017. https://www.ipcc.ch/2017/10/23/ipcc-special-report-on-global-warming-of-1-5-oc-expert-review-of-the-first-order-draft-and-start-of-the-third-lead-author-meeting/.

Lambrou and Piana, Yianna and Grazie. “Gender: The Missing Component of the Response to Climate Change.” 2006. https://wrd.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/2021-11/2702_GendertheMissingComponenttoCC.pdf/.

McCloy, John. “Inspirational and Shocking Quotes about Climate Change.” June 10, 2019. https://greencoast.org/quotes-on-climate-change/.

National Geographic. “Environmental Refugee.” Education, February 27, 2023. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/environmental-refugee/.

National Geographic Society. “The Influence of Climate Change on Extreme Environmental Events.” The National Geographic, July 26, 2023. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/influence-climate-change-extreme-environmental-events/.

North, Anna. “Hurricane Katrina Left Survivors Vulnerable to Sexual Assault. Here’s How to Protect Irma Evacuees.” Vox, September 11, 2017. https://www.vox.com/identities/2017/8/30/16221902/hurricane-harvey-katrina-sexual-assault-survivors/.

Patel, Kripalini, Nishisipa Panda, Krushna Chandra Sahoo, Shipra Saxena, Narendra Singh Chouhan, Pratibha Singh, Upasona Ghosh, and Bhuputra Panda. “A Systematic Review of Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) during Humanitarian Crises and/or Emergencies in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.” Frontiers in Public Health, September 28, 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9555566/.

Patnaik, Aneesh, Jiahn Son, Alice Feng, and Crystal Ade. “Racial Disparities and Climate Change - PSCI.” Princeton University, August 15, 2020. https://psci.princeton.edu/tips/2020/8/15/racial-disparities-and-climate-change/.

Paxson, Christina, Elizabeth Fussell, Jean Rhodes, and Mary Waters. “Five Years Later: Recovery from Post Traumatic Stress and Psychological Distress Among Low-Income Mothers Affected by Hurricane Katrina.” Social Science & Medicine (1982), January 2012. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3286602/.

Robles, Quijada and Cindy Patricia. “Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Disaster Recovery,” 2023. https://www.gfdrr.org/sites/default/files/publication/gender-equality-disaster-recovery.PDF/.

ReliefWeb, UNDP. “Gender and Climate Change - Overview of Linkages Between Gender and Climate Change - World.” ReliefWeb, April 19, 2017. https://reliefweb.int/report/world/gender-and-climate-change-overview-linkages-between-gender-and-climate-change?gclid=CjwKCAiA1JGRBhBSEiwAxXblwb4GjER6fwhr5uzCwqxTeKn7pmpsrrobY-JggD9H1hCLJLwdteHdxRoCk0EQAvD_BwE/.

Seltzer, Nathan, and Jenna Nobles. “Post-Disaster Fertility: Hurricane Katrina and the Changing Racial Composition of New Orleans.” Population and Environment, March 27, 2017.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5703431/#:~:text=Following%20Katrina%2C%20displacement%20contributed%20to%20a%2030%25%20decline,share%20of%20births%20now%20occurs%20to%20white%20women.

Sineiro, Sofia Sprechmann. “Evicted by Climate Change.” Confronting the Gendered Impacts of Climate-Induced Displacement, 2020. https://wrd.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/2021-11/CARE-Climate-Migration-Report-v0_4.pdf/.

Skinner, Althea, Nathalie Simoneau, and Cheryl Margoluis. “Women and Girls.” WWF. Accessed September 12, 2023. https://www.worldwildlife.org/initiatives/women-and-girls/.

“Supplemental Research Bulletin-Women and Disasters.” SAMHSA, Disaster Technical Assistance Center Supplemental Research Bulletin Women and Disasters, October 2020. https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/dtac/women-disasters-october-supplemental-research-bulletin.pdf/.

We Do, Sierra Club. “Gender and Climate Change in the United States.” March 2020. https://wedo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/WEDO-RP-022920.pdf/.

“Women Owning Woodlands.” Women Owning Woodlands, 2020. https://womenowningwoodlands.net/.

Women Deliver. “The Link Between Climate Change and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.” Women Deliver, January 2021. https://womendeliver.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Climate-Change-Report.pdf.

Women in Forestry: Challenges and Opportunities, 2001. https://www.fao.org/3/i3924e/i3924e.pdf/.

Additional Files

Posted

2023-12-31