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"Are we keeping everyone safe from disasters?" A qualitative case study on how the IFRC promotes an intersectional understanding of gender within disaster risk reduction projects for resilience

Boström, Elin LU (2021) SIMV02 20211
Graduate School
Abstract
Following the increasing number of climatic shocks and disasters, the poor and most vulnerable are disproportionately affected as their already exposed situation becomes further worsened. The gendered impacts of climate disasters have demonstrated how women and girls vulnerable position is exacerbated in relation to existing socio-cultural norms and inequalities, making them one of the most vulnerable groups to disasters and climatic shocks. To protect people and communities most at risk, measures to strengthen resilience are crucial. Previous studies have identified how organisations implementing activities to strengthen disaster resilience of vulnerable communities tend to merely consider groups as belonging to the binary of ‘women’ and... (More)
Following the increasing number of climatic shocks and disasters, the poor and most vulnerable are disproportionately affected as their already exposed situation becomes further worsened. The gendered impacts of climate disasters have demonstrated how women and girls vulnerable position is exacerbated in relation to existing socio-cultural norms and inequalities, making them one of the most vulnerable groups to disasters and climatic shocks. To protect people and communities most at risk, measures to strengthen resilience are crucial. Previous studies have identified how organisations implementing activities to strengthen disaster resilience of vulnerable communities tend to merely consider groups as belonging to the binary of ‘women’ and ‘men’. By drawing on existing literature this study will analyse how an intersectional understanding of gender is promoted, which recognises that individuals and groups are situated on a multi-categorical axis where gender intersects with other aspects that influence and affect the opportunities to become resilient. More specifically, this study will analyse the work of the humanitarian organisation IFRC within DRR, resilience and gender. Analysing the perceptions of intersectionality and gender, potential normative challenges and knowledge of aid recipients from a feminist political ecology and intersectional perspective, this study argues that more can be done by the IFRC to promote an intersectional understanding of gender. The findings of the study indicate that there is a gap between theory and practice in terms of how gender and intersectionality is defined and perceived, need to improve needs assessments,
consultations with women and other vulnerable groups, awareness-raising and greater
inclusion of women and others experiences to make everyone resilient equally. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Boström, Elin LU
supervisor
organization
course
SIMV02 20211
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Resilience, disaster risk reduction, intersectionality, gender, IFRC.
language
English
id
9052659
date added to LUP
2021-06-16 10:35:36
date last changed
2021-06-16 10:35:36
@misc{9052659,
  abstract     = {{Following the increasing number of climatic shocks and disasters, the poor and most vulnerable are disproportionately affected as their already exposed situation becomes further worsened. The gendered impacts of climate disasters have demonstrated how women and girls vulnerable position is exacerbated in relation to existing socio-cultural norms and inequalities, making them one of the most vulnerable groups to disasters and climatic shocks. To protect people and communities most at risk, measures to strengthen resilience are crucial. Previous studies have identified how organisations implementing activities to strengthen disaster resilience of vulnerable communities tend to merely consider groups as belonging to the binary of ‘women’ and ‘men’. By drawing on existing literature this study will analyse how an intersectional understanding of gender is promoted, which recognises that individuals and groups are situated on a multi-categorical axis where gender intersects with other aspects that influence and affect the opportunities to become resilient. More specifically, this study will analyse the work of the humanitarian organisation IFRC within DRR, resilience and gender. Analysing the perceptions of intersectionality and gender, potential normative challenges and knowledge of aid recipients from a feminist political ecology and intersectional perspective, this study argues that more can be done by the IFRC to promote an intersectional understanding of gender. The findings of the study indicate that there is a gap between theory and practice in terms of how gender and intersectionality is defined and perceived, need to improve needs assessments, 
consultations with women and other vulnerable groups, awareness-raising and greater 
inclusion of women and others experiences to make everyone resilient equally.}},
  author       = {{Boström, Elin}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{"Are we keeping everyone safe from disasters?" A qualitative case study on how the IFRC promotes an intersectional understanding of gender within disaster risk reduction projects for resilience}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}