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