Gender Dynamics in Climate Change Impacts: The Case of Women in Bangladesh

by Martina Aghemo

Climate change is undoubtedly reshaping the global landscape, posing challenges that societies, economies and ecosystems have never faced before. Natural disasters and extreme weather events are widely recognized to affect countries differently, but climate change also has a disproportionate impact on different segments of society. As a matter of fact, climate change affects people differently based on their gender and the most affected are women, especially in regions already vulnerable to environmental hazards. Societal expectations significantly shape women’s experiences during and after climate disasters. In many parts of the world, women face systemic barriers that increase their susceptibility to climate-induced risks. These barriers are not just limited to physical vulnerabilities, but they extend to social and economic inequalities that limit women’s ability to cope with and recover from disasters. Societal expectations regarding gender roles significantly shape how women experience and respond to climate events (Pearse, 2016). But how are women disproportionately affected by climate change? In what way do gender norms influence their exposure to environmental hazards? 

Research shows that women are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, as they are more likely to be part of a lower socioeconomic class and have fewer resources to adapt to the consequences of climate hazards. Additionally, climate change is now acknowledged as having significant long-term negative effects on communities and an unequal effect depending on gender. Women often face greater risks from climate change because their resources, decision-making power, and opportunities are typically not the same as those of men (Abedin et al.,2013). From a more practical point of view, women in many societies, particularly in developing nations, face structural barriers that limit their access to essential resources like land, clean water and economic opportunities (Pearse, 2016). These limitations leave them more susceptible to environmental risks and less equipped to recover from such events. 

In 1991, Bangladesh, a country severely affected by climate change, experienced a cyclone in which approximately 140,000 people lost their lives, women accounting for a majority of the fatalities. Many women found themselves unable to evacuate because of their responsibility to mind the household. In this period, a woman named Rasheda Begum who was a relief worker, spent 23 days in the country and witnessed the consequences of its male-dominated society, which was backed by strong religious traditions and restrictions on the mobility of women (Begum, 1993). When asking these women if they had heard the cyclone warning in time to escape, a woman mentioned that she did but was too afraid to leave, fearing she would be blamed or punished if anything happened to the family property in her absence. Others shared similar concerns, saying they did not dare leave the house without their husband’s approval (Begum, 1993). 

Boy carrying a woman in a makeshit boat during a flood in Sylhet, Bangladesh. Nayeemibnmatiur, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0> , via Wikimedia Commons

In the case of Bangladesh, women are more likely to have lower incomes, limited ability to own land, and fewer economic opportunities compared to men. Therefore, women’s participation in the labor force remains significantly lower than that of their male counterparts and they are often confined to informal and low-paying jobs. These economic inequalities mean that when a climate disaster strikes, women have fewer resources and support systems to recover, making them more vulnerable to the long- term consequences of environmental degradation. Additionally, household responsibilities (traditionally assigned to women) increase dramatically during natural disasters. Therefore, the division of labor increases both their physical and emotional effort during crises. 

Another urgent issue is the increased risk of gender-based violence in the aftermath of disasters, as social structures break down and women find themselves more vulnerable to harassment and abuse. Sexual harassment and lack of privacy were major concerns for young women and their families who had sought refuge in public shelters during the floods. As revealed in several interviews these women described feeling powerless as many were cut off from their usual support networks and had little control over their new environment. For example, in a flood shelter at a school in Dhaka near the Sobhan Bagh area, where families from nearby slums sought safety from the floods, there were reports of people working with criminals within the shelter to sexually harass young women (Rashid et al., 2013). 

Despite these obstacles, women have shown impressive resilience and adaptability. Women's groups and local NGOs have played a leading role in disaster preparedness and response efforts. Organizations like the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) and the Grameen Bank have empowered women through microfinance, education, and training programs, boosting their ability to manage and recover from disasters. It is essential to promote women's involvement in decision-making processes and design disaster response strategies that consider gender-specific needs and foster gender equality in socio-economic development. 

Moreover, incorporating gender dynamics into the discourse on environmental degradation is crucial for developing effective climate policies that address the specific vulnerabilities faced by women, particularly in developing countries. As the impacts of climate change disproportionately affect women due to societal norms and systemic barriers, climate policies should be designed with a gender-sensitive approach. Most of these countries already present socially unequal systems even outside the context of an environmental disaster, but setting up adequate emergency response strategies can reduce the disproportionate effects on women. For example, they can ensure safe evacuation routes for women, providing gender-specific shelters that prevent sexual harassment, and facilitate women’s access to economic resources that can promote their empowerment. 

Additionally, programs that encourage women’s participation in decision-making on climate issues, considering cultural sensitivities, can empower them to take proactive roles in resilience-building. In this way, gender-responsive policies would not only address environmental challenges, but also contribute to reducing gender inequalities, ultimately leading to more equitable and sustainable solutions.