Environment and Ecology Research Vol. 3(5), pp. 136 - 142
DOI: 10.13189/eer.2015.030504
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Gender Issues in Disaster: Understanding the Relationships of Vulnerability, Preparedness and Capacity

Mirza Ali Ashraf ^1,*, Md. Abul Kalam Azad ^2
1 Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, Bangladesh Secretariat, Bangladesh
² Institute of Disaster Management and Vulnerability Studies, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

ABSTRACT

The aim of the study is to explore the gender issues in disaster and to understand the relationships between vulnerability, preparedness and capacity following a qualitative method on the basis of secondary sources. The study notes that the women living in coastal areas are facing more difficulties due to the complexity of atmosphere where their activities are not properly recognized in disaster planning and management. However, the study showed that women, particularly belong to the poor families are primarily responsible for their domestic roles due to culturally dominated labour division. The study also recommended that women should be involved in emergency planning and disaster management process through ensuring their active participation. The inclusion of greater number of women in the emergency management profession could help in the long term to address disaster risks. Since, the underlying cultural, social, and economic patterns that lead to a low socio-economic status of women and thereby generate their specific vulnerability to disasters. Though, such initiatives have not addressed like their entire adverse impact on socio-economic status in recent literature, the present study is an initiative to address the women's involvement in preparedness and capacity building at the community level as well as household level which the vulnerable women are striving with the frequent disasters to sustain in the planet.

KEYWORDS
Gender, Disaster, Capacity, Vulnerability and Preparedness

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Mirza Ali Ashraf , Md. Abul Kalam Azad , "Gender Issues in Disaster: Understanding the Relationships of Vulnerability, Preparedness and Capacity," Environment and Ecology Research, Vol. 3, No. 5, pp. 136 - 142, 2015. DOI: 10.13189/eer.2015.030504.

(b). APA Format:
Mirza Ali Ashraf , Md. Abul Kalam Azad (2015). Gender Issues in Disaster: Understanding the Relationships of Vulnerability, Preparedness and Capacity. Environment and Ecology Research, 3(5), 136 - 142. DOI: 10.13189/eer.2015.030504.