Gender Perspectives in Disaster Risk Management and Its Impact on

Vulnerability: A Comprehensive Study

1. Introduction
The disaster affects disproportionately among communities, societies, men, women or
any other groups. As we all know, the effects of the disasters are seen to be increasing
worldwide in the present scenario. As the frequency and intensity of disasters increases
so as the requirement or need of disaster risk management (DRM) increases.

Disaster risk management (DRM) is a crucial field that plays a pivotal role in reducing
the impacts of the natural as well as man-made hazards and in safeguarding the
communities, societies and its people. But the gender perspective for management of
disaster has often been overlooked. This creates some lack of acknowledgement about
the diversity in vulnerability among communities and its people. Moreover, this creates
gap in understanding about the differential experiences of men, women and gender
diverse individuals during disasters. Subsequently, this has also affected in the
development and implementation of the effective DRM strategies and policies.

This thesis will examine the impact of the gender perspectives on disaster risk
management and the subsequent implications for vulnerability. Moreover, this research
will contribute to the existing body of knowledge by analyzing the unique challenges
faced by women, men and other gender groups in disaster contexts and also help
formulating strategies to enhance gender responsive DRM policies and practices. From
a theoretical perspective, this study will draw upon feminist and gender based analysis
to understand the role that the psychological and socio-economic gender dynamics play
in enhancing vulnerability during disasters. This shall be done through an extensive
study of the literature related to gender based violence, poverty and unequal access to
resources related to disaster risk. Primary data collection will include semi-structured
interviews with vulnerable populations to gain further insight into the perspectives of
gender in the context of disaster risk management. The findings and results from this
research project will offer key insights about how gender perspectives can be effectively
incorporated into DRM strategies and policies to reduce vulnerability and strive for
gender equitable response. Thus, this thesis will shed light on how the integration of
available gender sensitive policies and procedures can ultimately support the broader
development and implementation of effective DRM strategies.
2. Need of Research
Disasters affect individuals and communities indiscriminately, yet gender significantly
influence how individuals experience and cope with these events. Women, men and
gender diverse individuals have different roles, responsibilities and access to resources.
And, studies have increasingly shown that gender roles, norms, power dynamics and
socio-economic factors significantly influence vulnerability and capacities to disasters.
Women, for instance, may face distinct challenges due to societal expectations such as
caretaking responsibilities, limited access to resources and restricted mobility.
Moreover, gender-based violence tends to increase in post-disaster contexts, further
exacerbating vulnerability. However, the existing literature and practices in disaster risk
management tend to adopt a gender-blind approach, overlooking these subtle
variations.

Therefore, there is an urgent need to conduct comprehensive research on both national

and international level that explicitly examines the gender perspectives within disaster
risk management. The understanding of disaster risk management has to be evolved to
incorporate a more comprehensive and inclusive approach. On a national level,
research could analyze how gender-based disparities between communities can
contribute to increased disaster vulnerability, and how gender roles can shape resiliency
and recovery. On an international level, research could look at how gender
consideration influence international aid and response following disasters, and how
gender based norms can affect the implementation of international policies. Additionally,
research could focus on how international guidelines can be better applied to local
contexts to promote gender sensitive disaster risk management and reduce
vulnerability. This will lead to the recognition of the critical role that gender plays in
determining vulnerability and resilience in the face of disasters.

3. Importance of the Study

The study of gender perspective in disaster risk management is an important part of
disaster risk reduction, as gender impacts the propensity of individuals and groups to be
vulnerable or resilient to disasters. Understanding the gender perspectives in disaster
risk management is crucial for several reasons. It enables us to identify the specific
needs, challenges and strengths of different gender groups during disasters. This
knowledge can inform the development of targeted and effective interventions that
address the unique vulnerabilities faced by women, men and gender-diverse
individuals. By incorporating gender perspectives into disaster risk management
strategies, we can enhance the resilience, adaptive capacities and post disaster
recovery of communities as a whole. Recognizing and harnessing the diverse skills,
knowledge and experiences of all genders can lead to more inclusive and sustainable
disaster risk reduction measures.

Thus, research on gender perspectives further enables us to draw correlations between

contextual factors and vulnerability, allowing us to create more sustainable solutions
and improved preparedness measures. Understanding gender perspectives in disaster
risk management and its impact on vulnerability is an essential step to mapping out a
detailed disaster risk reduction plan that values the experiences of all people.
Furthermore, such a study could provide insights into policies and practices at multiple
levels of governance that can further foster resilient communities and reduce
vulnerability.

4. Problem Statement
A variety of gender perspectives are important when it comes to disaster risk
management. These perspectives can include: women’s perspectives, LGBTQIA+
perspectives, people with disabilities, indigenous perspectives, and more. Each
perspective has different perspectives on what needs to be done to protect people and
economies from disasters. In order to improve disaster risk management, it is important
to have a variety of perspectives when it comes to creating and implementing plans and
policies.

Despite the growing recognition of gender as a significant factor in disaster risk

management, there is a lack of in-depth research that systematically examines the
gendered dimensions of vulnerability. The existing literature tends to focus on
quantitative indicators of vulnerability without delving into the underlying gender
dynamics and power relations. As a result, there is limited understanding of how gender
shapes vulnerability during different phases of the disaster management cycle.

5. Research Hypothesis and Questions

There are numerous questions which supports the research. These questions help to
analyze the exact need or importance of gender perspectives on disaster risk
management.

1. How can gender gaps in disaster risk management be addressed to ensure that
both men and women are protected from disasters?
2. What kinds of factors influence the different levels of vulnerability between men
and women when it comes to disasters?
3. How do gender roles and norms impact the preparedness, response and
recovery phases of disaster management? And what are the implications for
vulnerability?
4. How does the inclusion or exclusion of gender perspectives in disaster risk
management affect the overall vulnerability of communities?
5. What are some innovative approaches to increase the participation of women in
disaster risk assessment and management?
6. What challenges exist in bridging the gap between disaster risk management
policies and practices for women and men?
7. What are the social, cultural and economic factors that contribute to gender
based vulnerabilities in disaster situations?