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A very good afternoon to our respected jury members, the respected teachers,
and my lovely audience, I Mehak Chowdhary am a student of law at Rayat Bahra
University and am here today to present my paper on the topic of Environmental Challenges on women and their health. A woman is an embodiment of strength, resilience, and boundless potential, shaping the world with grace and determination, and prioritizing women’s health is not only a matter of well-being but also a critical component of public health and societal advancement. In Contrast, women and men both interact with the environment differently. The connections between gender and environment are multidimensional and labyrinthine and groups of both are not equally affected. Environment affects the health of both women and men whereas studies show women are more vulnerable to climate change, an unhealthy environment can affect a woman’s health in various ways, which may be physical, psychological, or spiritual. This can lead to serious health risks. Women around the globe must modify or change their lifestyle as the change in climate. The increase in hazardous, severe, and inclement weather conditions is already bringing in changes in economies, economic development, and human migration, they are said to be one of the biggest human threats to the world this century. Women have been suffering for ages and still suffer today in the modern world due to lack of resources and environmental degradation. But why is it that both genders facing the environment are not equally affected? Why is it that environment has a greater impact on women? According to studies, environmental factors affect women’s health and increase risks and vulnerabilities. This is mostly because of Gender roles and economic disparities along with health impacts. Traditional gender roles often allot women's responsibilities related to caregiving, agriculture, and water collection. This places them in closer contact with environmental hazards and limits their ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions. Whereas Women in developing countries have comparatively limited access to resources, education, or when it comes to decision-making powers, this makes them more vulnerable to the impacts. Where it affects a woman socially it also affects her physically. Environment degradation has a greater effect on increasing health risks of a woman as compared to a man. Air pollution, waterborne diseases, organic pollutants, and occupational hazards such as exposure to pesticides and other chemicals, all affect human health and biodiversity loss. A study by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics reported that women expose themselves to over 100 individual chemicals each day through personal care products. Likewise, women are prone to experience greater exposure to dangerous cleaning chemicals than men. Research indicates women’s health risks are rising and it may be related to toxic chemical exposure. Over the last two decades, breast cancer rates have risen from a risk of 1 in 20 from 1 in 8 women. Research says that endocrine-disputing chemicals found in products may be key contributors to this increase in cancer. Environmental factors also affect women with other health risks such as Reproductive health issues leading to menstrual irregularities, infertility, miscarriages and birth defects, respiratory diseases causing asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Cardiovascular problems, neurological disorders, and mental health disorders. Many chemicals stored in the woman’s body are usually passed on to the next generation. A 2005 study by The Environment Working Group revealed that at least 287 hazardous industrial chemicals are passed through the placenta to the fetus. Toxic chemicals from products were commonly detected in breast milk. This poses an unnecessary burden on the developing child Now that we are aware of what women have to go through by natural causes, we must plan to take the initiative to spread awareness and influence change. Women are seen as active and effective agents and promoters of adaptation and mitigation. To protect themselves every woman must stay informed about potential social impacts and they must be active in advocating for change, women should not back down when it comes to promoting policies and sustainable practices This allows women to seek out support resources that address the intersectionality of environment and social issues. Nonetheless, women empower themselves and others around them through educational, skill branding, and leadership development opportunities, whereas when it comes to Health women need to reduce exposure and use environmentally friendly products. It is necessary to improve air quality to ensure clean & safe drinking water. It is also essential to maintain a healthy lifestyle and get regular checks done. To protect themselves mentally they are advised to practice self-care by connecting with nature and limiting exposure to negative media. Mental health is as important as physical health and to strengthen it one must seek social support rather than living in complete isolation and address climate anxiety. I would like to conclude my paper by saying that the protection of women and their health is not only a matter of individual well-being but also a crucial component of public health, societal development, and gender equality efforts. women’s health affected due to environmental influences requires extensive strategies involving the reduction of harmful pollutants and promoting sustainable development. By taking proactive steps to address the social causes of environmental factors, women can contribute to building more resilient, equitable, and sustainable communities. Thank you