WOMEN RESPOND TO VARIOUS DISASTERS

ABSTRACT :
Disasters always have an impact on the life of the women. But mostly the society is looking at
women and children as the victims of the disaster since they are considered as the vulnerable
groups of the society. Women are more vulnerable because they have fewer resources in their
own control. We have faced a number of disasters in the last decade which have claimed many
lives and losses. Majority of the victims of these disasters were women. The after effects of a
disaster can adversely affect the physical, psychological, social and emotional health of the
women. This not only affects them but also to their families.Women may have to bear the
burden of responsibility for their family in most cases after losing their partner.Their role in
ensuring household food security, and relying on natural resources to do this, increases the
impact of disasters. Their caregiver roles are fully developed in a post-disaster phase. Some
examples of the responses of women in certain disasters are also discussed in this article.When
comparing with men , women may have limited resources, limited exposure and limited
freedom of choices yet they have always played key roles in managing any disaster.

KEYWORDS: Disaster, Vulnerable, Post-disaster phase.

A disaster is a sudden, calamitous event that seriously disrupts the functioning of a community or
society and causes human, material, and economic or environmental losses that exceed the
community's or society's ability to cope using its own resources. Although often caused by
nature, disasters can have human origins. Women are the most affected by the impacts of various
disasters. Women are vulnerable because they have fewer resources in their own control. They
have no permanent place in decision - making systems and they suffer from gender-based abuses
and this is because of their low economic, social and political status. Their role in ensuring
household food security, and relying on natural resources to do this, increases the impact of
disasters. Their caregiver roles are fully developed in a post-disaster phase. They had to work
harder than usual and their specific health needs were neglected. In post disaster situations,
women are often more vulnerable than men. Their caregiving roles expand completely after a
disaster. They have to work harder than usual. Their special health needs are ignored. The
empowering of women groups which are vulnerable to disasters is an important part of building
disaster prevention communities.
Highly vulnerable women have specific needs and interests before, during, and after disasters. In
that context gender shapes capacity as well as vulnerability. Women are active and resourceful
disaster responders but most often are regarded as helpless victims. The increased vulnerability
of women is associated with factors which are socially and culturally deeply rooted in the
community. They have to face different situations at various stages of disaster.
After a major disaster, it is seen that women are more prone to depression and other emotional
disturbances. A person with depression also may experience many physical symptoms like, aches
or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems and they also may have trouble with sleeping,
waking up in the morning, and feeling tired. Thus, the impact of a disaster can negatively affect a
woman's physical health. The psychological vulnerability of women mainly stems from their
inherent family instincts. After the disaster, loss of shelter and family poses a massive pressure.
Expecting women to play in the event of a natural disaster is their first concern for members and
they soon begin to engage in various activities. Thus, with trauma and stress added burden of
duty and responsibility make the women more vulnerable to physical, mental and emotional
stress. It is supposed that men are stronger both physically and emotionally but it is evident that
women are better capable of handling emotional issues, physical pain, and stress. Men think in
the now, in the present situation while women think more in the long term. When resisted with an
emotional issue, women tend to look at how the resolution will affect those involved, while men
usually look at the resolution itself as the end result. Men are more concrete thinkers, and women
think on the emotional level due to differences in thought processes, women are better equipped
psychologically to handle emotional situations than men.
There is a tendency to lose the entire social support system that women need during a disaster.
Women may have to bear the burden of responsibility for their family with little children and the
sadness of losing a partner. In such a situation, they have to take on the new roles of
breadwinner. People living through a disaster can experience emotional distress. Other
symptoms such as anxiety, persistent anxiety, difficulty in sleeping, and depression are common
responses to disasters before, during, and after the event. With help from family and community,
many people are able to step back from disasters, but others may need additional support to cope
and move on the path of recovery.
Let us see some of the instances of the responses of women in certain disasters. The coronavirus-
COVID-19 pandemic is the major global health crisis now. Countries are trying to slow down the
spread of the virus. The actions and responses of some women in this disaster should be
discussed. K.K Shailaja, Kerala’s Minister for Health and Social Justice is better known as
Shailaja Teacher, has been praised for the way in which she has been leading the state’s response
to the Covid-19 pandemic. She is the woman behind combating the deadly coronavirus. The
Minister promised to do everything they could and they would overcome this threat . Not only
her work with Coronavirus efforts is commendable but also she has a history of taking crisis
head on. In the year 2018, Kerala’s Kozhikode district was gripped by an outbreak of the deadly
Nipah HYPERLINK "https://www.shethepeople.tv/news/nipah-virus-things-know-rare-deadly-
virus" HYPERLINK "https://www.shethepeople.tv/news/nipah-virus-things-know-rare-deadly-
virus"virus in the first week of May. The way in which Kerala handled the Nipah virus outbreak
holds crucial lessons for the rest of India.
When we talk about in a global context, we must definitely appreciate Princess Sofia of Sweden.
She has decided to join the frontline staff in treating patients suffering from the coronavirus
disease. Volunteering as a health worker, she will be aiding the efforts of medical staff in her
country. Jacinda Ardern, the 39-year-old prime minister of New Zealand, is creating a path of
her own. Ardern announced in Covid-19 press briefing that she, along with New Zealand’s
government ministers and public service chief executives, would be cutting their salary. The
German Chancellor Angela Merkel stressed the need for more global cooperation to tackle the
novel coronavirus. She also offered her full support to the World Health Organisation.
Mother Teresa was famous for humbly ministering to lepers, the homeless and the poorest of the
poor in the slums of Calcutta,India. She was able to bring leprosy patients into the mainstream at
a time when they were stigmatised. Mother Teresa created a Leprosy Fund to help educate
people about the disease and established a number of mobile leper clinics to provide affected
people with medicine and bandages close to their homes.
Women prepare to cover up quickly in an emergency, but often men have trouble convincing
them in their lives. Traditional gender stereotypes reappear after disasters. Women have a high
perception of risk, but they are sometimes not taken seriously because they are considered as
concerns. Comparatively , there may be limited resources, limited exposure and limited freedom
of choices yet women have always played key roles in managing any disaster. Increased political
commitment to gender equality with the help of civil society can do wonders. As we say, "great
power comes with great responsibility" , when they come to power there is no question of
compromise in responsibility since most women acquired it by birth. Considering the
psychological facts also women are more adaptable to any situation than men even if they are
more vulnerable to it. The public should be aware of the gender- sensitive vulnerabilities in
disasters, so that to reduce risk and manage effectively. Government institutions must study the
efficiency of gender sensitive policies and programmes in disaster management systems to
ensure equal participation of men and women in each step. The civil society must consider
ability and management skills beyond gender to enable gender mainstreaming in all sectors. We,
humans cannot completely resist any disasters but the disaster of gender-based prejudices. By
vindicating women's rights, we can make a better world which itself will be the most effective
risk reduction process regarding any disaster.