Women at the frontline of climate change

encouraging risky “heroic” actions and discouraging the seeking of counselling afterwards (Nelson et al ., 2002; Enarson, 2000).

group in the flood affected area, 71 females per thousand died compared to 15 males per thousand (Mushtaque et al ., 1993 cited in Baden et al ., 1994). Gendered cultural norms relating to women’s behaviour and identities, which limit their ability to make rapid decisions regarding mobility and freedom of movement, may when disasters hit, delay women from leaving their homes to seek refuge and safety until it is too late (Nelson et al ., 2002). Gender norms and ideas of men’s masculinity and identity may also affect the behaviour of men in the post-disaster reconstruction and rescue period by sometimes

Most critically, the aftermath of a disaster exacerbates existing gender inequalities and places acute pressure on women with their everyday workloads, besides creating the loss of household dwellings, security, safety nets and ruptures in social controls that regulate behaviour and norms within and between households (Bartlett, 2008). Other impacts on livelihoods also have gender dimensions. These include the loss of life, property, homesteads,

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