Gendered violence in natural disasters: Learning from New Orleans, Haiti and Christchurch

Abstract

Why are women so vulnerable to violence and death as a result of disaster compared with men? This article investigates how global environmental forces in the form of natural disasters from floods, droughts and famines to earthquakes, tsunamis and hurricanes affect women and men differently. Disasters are known to have direct and indirect impacts on gender-based violence particularly against women and girls, revealing a pattern of heightened violence and vulnerability in their aftermath. These gendered impacts are directly relevant to social work theory, practice and advocacy, which seek to promote social wellbeing and to prevent violence in homes and communities during and in the aftermath of disasters. The article argues that women's unequal economic and social status relative to men before a disaster strikes determines the extent of their vulnerability to violence during and after a crisis. If gender-based violence and women's particular needs are not addressed in disaster preparedness, disaster recovery plans and humanitarian assistance, then women and girls' vulnerability will increase. The article offers some lessons based on primary research of responses to the 2010-2011 Christchurch earthquakes against the backdrop of what we know about the responses to an earthquake of similar magnitude in Haiti in 2009. It draws implications from this research for social work theory, practice and advocacy, highlighting the importance of ensuring that future disaster planning and decision making is gender-sensitive.

Protocols and Practices in Emergency Evacuation of Women Fleeing Abuse

“…The challenge of protecting vulnerable women during and after a disaster has surfaced in the literature as early as the late 90s with Enarson's (1999) work with continued investigation presently (First, First and Houston, 2017;Norris, 2014). For example, True (2013) has extended the literature and suggested that gendered violence increases during and after a disaster unless the disaster response community finds ways to address female vulnerability.…”

Gendered Vulnerabilities in Times of Natural Disasters: Male-to-Female Violence in the Philippines in the Aftermath of Super Typhoon Haiyan

“…Instead, as Fionnuala Aoláin (2011) argues, one should look at the existing conditions prior to the disaster because “the specific vulnerabilities identified in the moment of crisis can only be completely understood and fully addressed by reference to the backdrop” (p. 6). Researchers documenting violence against women in disaster settings such as the 2010 earthquake in poverty-stricken Haiti (Le-Ngoc, 2015), the 2004 tsunami in war-torn Sri Lanka (Fisher, 2010), the 2011 Christchurch, New Zealand earthquakes and the 2005 Hurricane Katrina in the United States (True, 2013) also stress the importance of a contextual approach. Preexisting inequalities are likely to be magnified by climate disasters.…”

“…While a combination of factors may trigger violence in disaster situations, this should not be confused with the deeply rooted causes of gendered violence such as sexual stereotyping, women’s socioeconomic disempowerment, and limited social mobility (Fisher, 2010; Horton & Rydstrom, 2011). In recent scholarship on gender and disasters (Enarson & Chakrabarti, 2009; True, 2013), women are not essentialized and victimized as vulnerable as emphasis is put on the social aspects of natural disaster. As Sarah Fisher (2010) observes, “both during disaster and at other times, male perpetrators use violence as a means to assert power and control over women” (p. 913).…”

“An opportunity to hope and dream”: Disaster Politics and the Emergence of Possibility through Community‐Led Recovery

“…Interestingly, the perception that the earthquakes have altered the social landscape is also communicated through posters shown below as part of the Art Box installation which features commentary on the increasing role of women in the construction industry with the title “Rebuilding Preconceptions” (Figure ). The aim here is not to go into specific detail of the gendered dynamics in the recovery (for example, see Adams‐Hutcheson ; Gordon ; True ); however, these examples demonstrate how community‐led performances and art can contribute to politicising issues that have arisen following the earthquakes.…”