Why Climate Change is a Feminist Issue
Climate change is a global crisis but it also exacerbates existing inequalities, one of which is gender equality and justice. Abby Ng. writes about the disastrous effects of Climate Crisis on women and girls.
The climate crisis intensifies and increases the frequency of natural disasters such as cyclones, floods, and droughts. When these happen, women and girls are disproportionately affected.
Vulnerability to disasters
Women and girls around the world are more susceptible to the effects of climate-related disasters. They are more likely to live in poverty than men, which means they are less likely to have the resources to protect themselves. In 2015, over 244 million people worldwide were displaced as a result of climate change and a staggering 80% of them were women. Those who face additional discrimination such as race or ethnicity will have to endure added risks as well.
In more rural areas, women are expected to handle household chores and responsibilities, which means they are likely to travel to get food, water, and other necessities. Food shortages and water scarcity resulting from climate change means they have to travel greater distances to provide for their families. Daughters are also expected to help with household tasks. This makes them more likely to drop out of school, affecting their education and learning.
Migration
When the changing climate makes job security more difficult to achieve, men and women tend to migrate in search for better opportunities. When men migrate, there is more pressure on women to provide for their families. It has been found that more women are migrating as an attempt to overcome poverty, but they are also subject to trafficking, prostitution, and other forms of abuse.
The Philippines is one of the countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and it has been found that a significant portion of the world’s migrant workers come from the Philippines, with most of them being women. Migration has now become a common adaptation measure for them in order to stabilize their income. When women bear the brunt of these effects, it deepens and perpetuates social inequalities. We must remember that climate justice is also social justice.
Gender-based Violence
Violence against women happens everywhere, not just in developing countries. Climate-related disasters force millions of women into temporary shelters, increasing the likelihood of abuse and harassment. Another result of these disasters is job loss and financial insecurity, causing psychological stress not just to women, but also men who may be the breadwinner of their families.
The journey that women and girls take to get food and water makes them more vulnerable to sexual assault. There are also landowners and farmers who take advantage of women by offering land in exchange for sexual favors. Moreover, women’s limited access to resources, information, and economic opportunities could force them to stay with abusive partners.
More female representation will turn the tide
Women are undoubtedly vulnerable to climate change, but they are also the most powerful agents the world has to mitigate the problem. Women are skilled and knowledgeable, but they are extremely underrepresented.
We have to apply a gender lens to climate adaptation strategies. Initiatives must address gender-specific issues across multiple sectors and reflect the needs of women and girls everywhere. Health systems should be made more accessible and available to women, with adjustments made according to the needs and roles of women. For instance, there could be technologies offering potable water that are situated closer to people’s homes to avoid long trips.
There could also be gender-sensitive disaster risk resilience (DRR) measures that can help provide safe shelters for women in times of calamity, and initiatives that tackle the psychological needs of men. When it comes to violence against women, men are rarely included in the picture even if they are the perpetrators. We hear media outlets say that women were hurt, but not talk about who hurt them. Men are just involved in this issue as women.
If we want to help women, we have to include women. We have to create a safe space where they can be taught and empowered, instead of being discriminated against. What better way to solve these problems than to let women lead?
“Educating young women and empowering women to come to decision-making tables is the strongest thing that we can do for the climate.” — Christiana Figueres
About the Author: Abigail Ng (Abby) is a Program Associate at Villgro Philippines. She assists in end-to-end program management, supports impact enterprises, and organizes thought leadership events and activities to bring the impact ecosystem together. Abby is also the Vice President of Externals under Project Pulo, a component under TAYO, a local change agency which aims to develop sustainable practices in the Philippines through design, education, and community development. She is the former Bye Bye Plastic Bags Global Coordinator and previous Externals Head for Bye Bye Plastic Bags Philippines. Abby graduated from Ateneo de Manila University in 2020.
