Hochweit 2020

However, it has been argued that women tend to be
more vulnerable to climate impacts compared to men;
whilst this might be partly true, the root causes need to
be carefully examined and considered. The classifications
of women as vulnerable state an oversimplification
of gender behaviours since economic, sociological,
and hierarchical matters are not taken into consideration
and the focus is only directed towards the female
physiological and biological features. This simplification
is also visible in the characterisation of women as
the ones standing closer to nature due to their ‘natural
characteristics’, like motherhood or physical weakness. 4
This comparison justified, on the one hand, the reckless
handling of nature and natural resources and, on the
other hand, the protection and restriction of the ‘weak’
female gender. 5 Women’s vulnerability is observed as
a subject of individual attention, excluding factors as
unequal processes of decision-making, 6 gender-related
cultural values and norms, and legal distinctions between
genders. Conclusively, women become indeed
more exposed to impacts like droughts, floods, heavy
rains, heatwaves, and water scarcity and to the resulting
health and life expectancy risks. 7 However, social
norms and disparities and not the argued female inadequacy
or fragility lead to increased vulnerability. At the
same time, the policy-level response on gender vulnerability
caused by climate change was weak and inadequate
for an extended period. Although the international
policy has been addressing climate matters through
actions since 1994, no reference had been made to the
interrelationship between gender disparities and climate
change until 2012. 8 Only then did gender equality
constitute a section in the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 9
and the Paris Agreement, yet as a non-binding one.
On the contrary, sustainable development actions had
recognised the indivisible nature of the state of social
well-being and the global ecological crisis since the
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development
(UNCED) in 1992. 10 International activities
have accelerated progress against gender-based discrimination
worldwide. Nonetheless, further measures
are needed, especially in as profoundly affected areas as
sub-Saharan Africa. 11 An examination of most regions
in the area reveals that legal distinctions based on gender
are common and state a severe threat, since they
hinder women from accessing multiple sectors, land
property, technical advances, and financial services.
Consequently, women are denied the possibility of
improving their working methods and financial state,
thus becoming more vulnerable.
Undoubtedly, an interrelationship exists between
gender inequality and vulnerability to the effects of
abrupt climate change. Disparities and exclusion not
only impact females’ quality of life but also create social
imbalances and affect cohesion. Gender discrimination
and poverty, in combination with direct dependence
on natural resource, are exerting actors, significantly
influencing an individual’s adaptive capacity to climate
change. For this reason, particularly women in more
impoverished rural areas with a high gender inequality
index become more exposed to the impacts of the
global ecological crisis. In order to achieve climate resilience
and sustainable development, it is necessary
to undertake action to improve gender equality. First
and foremost, the international policy should persuade
the elimination of law divergencies based on gender by
launching binding actions for gender equality promotion.
Simultaneously, a bright information campaign
on gender needs to take place. Improving education on
gender matters would help deter inequalities caused by
religious and cultural beliefs, since these norms often
include misconceptions and misperceptions targeting
women. Lastly, the social and economic importance
of gender equality needs to be clarified, as must the
disadvantages resulting from gender discriminations.
For instance, numerous studies demonstrate the relatedness
between education and advancement in
production techniques. 12 Therefore, irrespective of the
indisputable fact that access to education is a human
right, economic benefits would also arise, especially for
poverty-stricken rural areas.
The main conclusion that can be drawn in this paper
is the evident interrelationship between a higher
gender inequality index and increased climate change
vulnerability. Improvement of gender equality, particularly
in impoverished agriculture-based economies,
would significantly contribute to better resilience.
Gender inequalities seem to affect not only females’
quality of life but also social cohesion by fracturing
community bonds and exposing all members to higher
climate change vulnerability. Therefore, gender equality
and vulnerability are not just women’s matters but
crucial issues of every society, affecting well-being and
development. However, this research has given rise to
many questions in need of further investigation, considering
that the dimensions of long-term exposure to
impacts of climate change are still unknown.
1 National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA):
Overview. Weather, Global Warming and Climate Change.
www.climate.nasa.gov/resources/global-warming-vsclimatechange,
2.3.2020
2 European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE): Gender Equality.
www.eige.europa.eu/thesaurus/terms/1168, 4.3.2020
3 Hofmeister, Sabine/Katz, Christine/Molders, Tanja (Hg.):
Geschlechterverhältnisse und Nachhaltigkeit. Die Kategorie
Geschlecht in den Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften. Leverkusen
2012, S. 272f.
4 ebenda
5 ebenda
6 Habtezion, Senay: Over-View of Linkage Between Gender and
Climate Change. United Nations Development Programme,
New York 2013, S. 2
7 World Health Organization (WHO): Gender, Climate Change
and Health. World Health Organization, Schweiz 2014
8 Sovacool, Benjamin K./Linner, Bjorn-Ola/Klein, Richard J. T.:
„Climate Change Adaptation and the Least Developed Countries
Fund (LDCF). Qualitative Insights From Policy Implementation
in the Asia-Pacific“. In: Climatic Change 140. Heidelberg
2017, S. 211
9 Röhr, Ulrike/Alber, Gotelind: „Geschlechterverhältnisse und
Klima im Wandel. Erste Schritte in Richtung einer transformativen
Klimapolitik“. In: GENDER. Zeitschrift für Geschlecht,
Kultur und Gesellschaft. 02/2018, S. 115
10 Mölders, Tanja: „Rethinking Gender. Feminist Perspectives on
Sustainable Development Goals in the Light of (Re)Productivity“.
In: GAIA. Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society.
02/2019, S. 95f.
11 Busby, Joshua. W. u.a.: Climate Change and Insecurity.
Mapping Vulnerability in Africa. In: International Security
04/2013. Cambridge 2013, S. 136ff.
12 Chege, Fatuma/Sifuna, Daniel N.: Girls’ and Women’s Education
in Kenya. Gender Perspectives and Trends. Nairobi 2006, S. 9f.
anna rizou
Betreuung: Prof. Dr. Tanja Mölders
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