MSW 521 Module 4: Application Assignment

Module 4: Application Paper: NOTES Gender Vulnerability Applied to Other Populations Chapter 10 (p. 190) Polices programs and practices that are introduced to address disaster or to undertake the

processes of reconstruction are almost universally what Enarson refers to as stubbornly gender-

blind. For example, Australia's emergency recovery plans are described as having a pervasive

gender-blindness demonstrated in statements on diversity within these plans that focused on

factors such as ethnicity and age but disregarded gender (Hazeleeger 2013b: 41).

This benign neglect of the gender implications of disaster policies can have a number of unforeseen consequences, including the re-establishment and reinforcement of gender

inequalities and gender normative behaviors and a failure to adequately sanction hypermasculine

responses such as violence against women. In fact, Enarson 2012) notes the striking disregard for

gender in the context of disasters despite the evident differences in impacts and outcomes.

Yet international research confirms that women's engagement in post-disaster restoration

significantly increased positive outcomes. The UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction

(2007:9) notes that 'attention and resources directed to local, women… tradition cultural

knowledge and expertise produced more efficient, relevant and cost-effective projects.

Social Works Actions

Critical to social work effectiveness in the need to :

Address gender equality:

*Acknowledge and address gendered vulnerability;

*Prioritize gender equality and gender sensitivity in all actions and strategies before, during, and after a

disaster;

*Incorporate women and men in all committees and decision-making bodies in equal numbers; and

*Advocate against policies that discriminate and ensure that resources are equitably distributed.

Social workers can use the IAPPA framework to strengthen gender equality-informed, consult, involve,

collaborate, and empower when acting in disaster sites. This will assist workers to understand who is

included and excluded and act to ensure that marginalized groups are incorporated into practice

actions.

SUMMARY

In this chapter, we have introduced the notion of gender as a critical factor sharpening

vulnerability before, during, and after disasters. Women are far more vulnerable than men in

the context of disasters, a fact that has been reinforced in disaster sites across the world in

both developed and developing countries. Across the world, gender inequalities that are

embedded in diverse cultural contexts lie at the heart of womens disadvantage. Social workers

must be aware of cultural and social practices in the context of disasters to enhance gender

sensitivity in disaster responses and reimagine post-disaster sites as critical spaces to address

gender equality. We can do this through action and practices that acknowledge the rights of

women and girls and destabilise traditional customs that disempower them.

As Enarson 2012: 197) ao notes aptly, without paying attention to gender relations, as one of

the defining characteristics of private and public life, we will not build an exclusive and gender-

responsive approach to emergency management and disaster risk reduction. Attention to

gender in disaster policies and actions is critical to achieving gender equality.

Chapter 11. Vulnerability

Vulnerability is influenced by factors that shape one’s place in the world-gender, education,

employment, access to resources, family structure, sexuality ( Framed by circumstances)

Vulnerability is embedded in complex social relations and processes and is situated squarely at

the human-environment intersection requiring social solutions if successful risk reduction occurs.

This requires an understanding of the complex social and power relation that previously existed

in the affective area,ands the personal factors and life circumstances that will lead to some

people being more vulnerable than others. a vulnerable person might find it difficult to receive

understand or act on information before during or af,ter an emergency. There will be people who

do not receive, understand or work on the information for several of reasons!! Example:

language difficulties, mobility issues,s resources to access information sites.

Particularly vulnerable in a disaster are the homeless. Homeless people may lose their existing

shelter and be overlooked or given a very low priority when displaced people are housed. Before

the disaster, homeless people may not receive early warnings or know where shelters are being

established. In some circumstances, however, homeless people may have benefited from post-

disaster support services. For example, in our research following the Black Saturday fires, a

young person who had left the foster care welfare system with little or no financial support was

now able to access a ready pool of resources, including clothes, food, and accommodation. As he

explained

For the first time, I was not the only person who looked like a dreg, and people didn't look at me

weird when you were in town. People wanted my help because I could carry stuff, I could lift

stuff, and I could drive stuff, and there was always food around, and you could get any clothes

and toiletries that you needed all the time, and no one made you fill out forms or anything for it.

Nonetheless, it is important to address the needs of the homeless and to ensure they are receiving

adequate support.

INTERSECTIONALITY

Intersectionality is the complex cumulative manner in which the effects of different forms of

discrimination combine, overlap, or intersect. Discrimination does not exist in a bubble- different

kinds of prejudice can be amplified in different ways when put together. Certain categories such

as gender, ethnicity, and class will facilitate systems of power that shappeople’se's lives,

advantaging some groups and disadvantaging others, leading to discrimination and oppression.

Intersectionality describes the multiple positions and identities that people can adopt allowing

them to move between different identity markers. (EXAMPLE: from mother to professional

worker; from the old person to a local government representative.)

Intersectionality explains how people prioritize different aspects of their identities and how they

negotiate these identities across time and space and respond to environmental cues.

Intersectionality reminds us to be aware of the many factors that shape vulnerability, both

singularly any contact with each other. At the same time, it reminds us that these categories are

not definitively people’s capacity to adapt and that a strength-based approach will assist people

in moving beyond the disaster experience.