Gender Equality, Environmental Management, and Natural Disaster Mitigation

Citation:

Enarson, Elaine. 2001. “Gender Equality, Environmental Management, and Natural Disaster Mitigation.” Paper presented at the Expert Group Meeting on Environmental Management and the Mitigation of Natural Disasters: a Gender Perspective, Ankara, Turkey, November 6-9.

Author: Elaine Enarson

Annotation:

This report summarizes the discussions and conclusions of a six-week online conference in which 224 participants from around the world took part. The conference focused on five themes: gender myths and realities in disasters; ways in which women manage and use environmental resources; women’s and men’s coping strategies in the face of natural disasters; ways in which disasters can be used for social change; and methods for integrating gender equality into disaster prevention and development initiatives. Participants noted the important roles that women play during disasters and concerning the environment in general, and they asserted that women’s voices should be promoted in this field. They offer several examples of successful and failed strategies, and assert that education is key for promoting women’s participation. The conference ends with three knowledge gaps and three goals for further integrating gender into disaster and development issues.

Topics: Development, Environment, Environmental Disasters, Gender, Gender Mainstreaming, Gendered Power Relations, Gender Equality/Inequality, Humanitarian Assistance

Year: 2001