A woman in Burma. Photo: Will Baxter / WPN

With recent devastating news of the cyclone in Burma (where the official death toll tops 30,000 and 2 million people face disease and starvation) and the earthquake in China (more than 12,000 dead so far), Suzie at Echidne's blog reminds us:

When a disaster occurs, don’t forget the gendered aspects. During the chaos, women can be more vulnerable to rape and violence by intimate partners. They may trade their bodies for aid. Because women often care for the young, the old and the sick, they may have greater needs or different needs than men. In many cultures, women have to protect their honor or dignity in different ways that may hinder their ability to get help.

With extensive community ties, women also can have an advantage in distributing aid after a disaster.

Cara also links to this research showing that, in countries where women do not have equal rights, they are more likely to be killed by natural disasters:

Professor Neumayer said: 'The feminists got it right. Natural disasters are a tragedy in their own right but in countries with existing gender discrimination women are the worst hit. While most disasters cannot be prevented, policy makers, international and humanitarian organizations must develop better policies to address the special needs of women in the wake of large-scale natural disasters.'

To Help:

MADRE: "MADRE is working with the Women's Human Rights Defenders Network and Burmese women's organizations. We learned from our work with women's organizations in the aftermath of the tsunami that, in order to best identify and meet the communities' needs, we must rely on the local women's organizations." Donate here.

American Red Cross International Response Fund: Every day people around the world are suffering from countless crises, like the cyclone in Myanmar and the earthquake in China. Your gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund helps provide them immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support. Donate here or call 1-800-HELP NOW.

2 Comments

May 13, 2008 4:43 PM

[0+|0-]  Icha said:

besides the gender differential in vulnerability to rape and ability to save oneself, due to protecting "honor," etc., it is painful to imagine what it would be like going into labor and giving birth under these conditions. I seldom to never see this as the focus of disaster relief articles...

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May 14, 2008 7:53 AM

[0+|0-]  zoelawgirl said:

I think one reason the entirety of women's needs are forgotten after a natural disaster is becasue we are presented with images of women as defined by their status as victims. When we see pictures like the one posted above, the woman is essentially being used--dare I say objectified-- to put the most vulnerable face on the plight of all victims. News programs and reporters often show only pictures of women and children (who I think are also objectified in the news and by the aid businesses after a disaster) but do not address them as human beings with a host of needs in a particular context.

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