The Impact on Women’s Health of Climatic and Economic Disaster
- Abstract
Globally, women and children are at greater risk both during and after a disaster and more women than men die in disasters. Climatic disaster affects women disproportionately as the risk is multiplied by women’s economic vulnerability. More women than men inhabit risk-prone localities and inadequate housing, and through poverty, have fewer resources for adaptation to climate or escape in catastrophic disasters. Women’s socially constructed role as primary carer further endangers women as escape is complicated by responsibility for dependents, and the notion of ‘women and children first’ in disasters has been refuted by a 2012 meta-analysis which concluded human behaviour in life-threatening situations is ‘every man for himself’.
- Resource Type
- Position paper/statement
- Authors
- Debra Parkinson Alyssa Duncan Cathy Weiss
- Date
- April 2014
- Institution
- Australian Women's Health Network
- Organization Type
- Ngo
- Health and Human Impact
- Overview/general
- Climate and Environmental Impact
- Overview/general
- Solutions
- Climate adaptation/resilience Climate mitigation/GHG reduction
- Region
- International
- Other
- Advocacy Social determinants of health Vulnerable populations