Hernandez, Gail Leslie P.

1. WHAT IS GENDER SENSITIVE APPROACH IN DISASTER NURSING?

As stated by Ferris and Petz (2013), gender is defined as roles in society that involves the
attributes and concept of society that determines the personality derived from their respective
sex upon birth. As there are implications regarding gender amidst natural disasters as it serves
as a critical variable towards effectivity of the disaster risk management that enables the
trainings being underwent by volunteers and assigned individuals to be effective and resilient in
the event of a disaster. Furthermore, there are different needs, wants, and weaknesses
depending on the gender, status, and capabilities within a group of individuals as each of the
said conditions vary differently in terms of the protections, concerns and capacity needed
amidst a disaster. An adequate example are people with disabilities, elderly, people in critical
condition of illness, unsupervised children, ethnicity, and indigenous populations. In addition to
this, there are numerous factors that contributes to the impact to women and children, as this
proves that there are also different coping mechanisms for the prevention and recovery
process. Most importantly, women specifically nurses play a significant and adequate role in
stages of disaster and risk management as they are mostly the frontliners and responders and
carries the most important resource towards disaster risk reduction and recovery.

2.WHAT IS GENDER MAINSTREAMING IN DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RISK ASSESSMEMT?

In disaster preparedness and risk assessment, gender mainstreaming refers to

promoting awareness regarding gender equity and gender equality. Moreover, it contributes on
reducing the impact of disasters and considers the analysis of one’s gender in lieu with disaster
management, risk assessment and reduction, and most importantly development of a
sustainable environment that will contribute to the efficiency of the action plan. However, as
stated by Neumayer and Plümper (2002), women are highlighted during disaster risk management policy
and decision-making processes as it was being developed and implemented. The effects of natural
disasters and risk differs largely from one’s gender, as inequalities arise due to different traditions, beliefs
and social conditions. As such, it places women at a disadvantage as coping strategies and mechanisms
also differ between them. Due to this, women are placed in a tight spot as it affects their performance
on the trainings for prevention, recovery and other processes in natural disasters.

REFERENCES

Ferris, E., Petz, D., & Stark, C. (2016, July 29). Disaster risk management: A gender-sensitive approach is a
smart approach chapter 4 of the year of recurring disasters: A review of natural disasters in
2012. Retrieved from: https://www.brookings.edu/research/disaster-risk-management-a-
gender-sensitive-approach-is-a-smart-approach-chapter-4-of-the-year-of-recurring-disasters-a-
review-of-natural-disasters-in-2012/

Neumayer & Plümper. (2002). The Gendered Nature of Natural Disasters: The Impact of Catastrophic
Events on the Gender Gap in Life Expectancy. Retrieved from:
https://drmims.sadc.int/sites/default/files/document/202003/Gender%20Mainstreaming%20in
%20Disaster%20Risk%20Management_FINAL.pdf