Women and Climate Change: The Way To a More Sustainable Future

Climate change is an undeniable and dangerous threat to modern society. For decades, human life has been spewing pollutants into the ecosystems of our planet. Consequently, global climate patterns are warming and severe weather events like droughts, floods, fires, and tropical storms are becoming more frequent and costly. The devastation wrought by climate change has limited already scarce resources and put livelihoods in jeopardy around the world. Unfortunately, it is most often seen that the people least responsible for and least equipped to combat climate change (poor and minority individuals) are the ones most susceptible to the negative consequences of climate change (Dreyfus). Solutions are already being sought after to slow the acceleration of climate change and to mitigate the negative consequences on disadvantaged communities. However, the feminist perspective is often ignored in mainstream conversations on climate change solutions. Women suffer more severely from climate change because of the patriarchal cultural, social, and legal structures that exist around them. To most effectively combat climate change, the plight of women in climate related situations must be acknowledged. Action must be taken to alleviate these risks and women must be empowered in order to obtain a sustainable future.

Women are highly vulnerable in the immediate consequences of severe weather crises caused by climate change. For example, many women worldwide are “not encouraged to learn how to swim, largely for reasons of cultural appropriateness or modesty” (Goh). In order for a woman to maintain her “modesty” she is forced to be ignorant of basic survival methods, making her increasingly dependent on her male peers. Cultural traditions rooted in a patriarchal mindset can prove life threatening in disastrous weather events. Furthermore, a phenomenon has been observed in which women are more likely to die than men or children during a natural disaster because of their perceived duty to protect children and family assets over their own lives (Goh). Patriarchal culture has instilled in women a self-sacrificial mindset that other lives- even objects- are more valuable than their own. It is important to note the agency of these women and the commendable bravery and selflessness they display in their sacrifice; however, our patriarchal culture must be examined and questioned in order to create greater justice for women in life threatening climate situations.

Drought also disproportionately effects women in multiple ways, one of which is increased instances of disease. In recent years, Nepal has been experiencing longer dry seasons caused by the changing climate. Because of a lack of water, crop production has decreased, and the country has seen an increase in famine (Goh). Famine and malnutrition pose an enormous threat to the health of a community in the form of widespread disease and death (Goh). However, because of social and cultural norms, women face the brunt of malnutrition as most food is given to the male workers of the household. According to Goh, because of traditional social and cultural norms, “even during periods where households appeared to have sufficient food, women and children seemed to have a lesser share of the food” (Goh). Gendered social structures worldwide assign men to be the top priority in keeping healthy as they are the “breadwinner”. Also, traditional family dynamics place the man of the house with the most power. Because of these reasons, and the fact that women are meant to be the self-sacrificial nurturer of the family, food is less available to women normally. In times of food shortages, this situation will be magnified, and women will be placed in increasingly dangerous situations of malnutrition and disease.

Female farmers also tend to face increased negative consequences in drought struck areas. In developing nations, agriculture is a key component of the socioeconomic structure and women take part in large amounts. For example, in India, 97.5 million women work in rural areas, and 99.5% of those women work as agricultural cultivators or laborers (Chanana). However, many women cultivators face limits in their production due socialized gender norms which lead to discrimination and resulting limited resource access (Chanana). Women laborers also face gender discrimination through an acute wage gap between men and women laborers (Chanana). Women are not given what they are owed due to their gender, leaving them at disadvantage as they try to compete with their male counterparts. As climate change continues to limit natural resources and tensions grow, this situation will likely only worsen for women as those in power (men) will have the ability to reserve scarce resources for themselves. By empowering women and setting up legislation and programs to support them in the agricultural sector, greater climate justice will be able to be achieved

Drought also causes severe mental and physical health risks for women. Traditionally, (especially in developing countries with little to no water infrastructure) women are in charge of procuring water for their families (Goh). Water in developing, poor nations is hard to come by. Constant instability and weak governing systems limit the amount of water infrastructure in an area, causing women to have to walk potentially ten or more miles to find a water source to sustain her family for the day (Abedin). Assuming it takes a person 20 minutes to walk a mile, it could take around six hours in total for a woman to get water each day. Besides the massive physical toll this takes, increased water scarcity requires women to devote more of their time into finding water and not to their own education and personal desires. This can be especially harmful to younger women, who, resultantly, cannot gain proper education or attain jobs. This disappointment and frustration along with feelings of not being able to live up to their traditional roles as “producers and providers”, cause women in drought prone regions to report being highly anxious and under heavy mental strain (Goh). These feelings may be further exacerbated when men migrate from drought-stricken areas to find better jobs to support their families.

Climate change has been seen to uproot families. Because of decreased crop yields, male family members migrate to more climate secure areas in search of job opportunities (Goh). Traditionally, it is the woman’s place to stay home and care for the household while the man of the house sends money back in support. However, migration by men has been seen to “increase the workload of the women and expose them to physical and sexual abuse as they scrambled for depleting commodities or entered into early marriages” (Goh). Women are at a disadvantage in a patriarchal when trying to gain invaluable resources to sustain their families. Because of cultural norms, women led households are more susceptible to harassment and poverty as they have no man that outside influencers need to respect (Goh). It is also nearly impossible for women to attain a job with a sustaining wage for their family because of the gender pay gap (Goh). Many women have to turn to prostitution and young girls are sold off in marriage at increasingly young ages in order to pay expenses to keep families alive (Dreyfus). Cultural traditions of a patriarchal society impair a woman’s ability to care for herself and her family without the presence of a man. As more and more men migrate in search of jobs to provide for their family, women are left with increased responsibilities and vulnerability.

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However, while women face the brunt of climate change’s consequences, their education and empowerment might hold the key to slowing the progression of climate change. A major movement in the mitigation of climate change is the idea of populationism. Populationism is the theory that climate change can be slowed by a decreasing birth rates globally, thus reducing waste and emissions (Hendrixon). The UN currently predicts by 2050 the global population will be around 9 billion people. The predicted carrying capacity of the planet can be as small as 1.5–5 billion people (Anderson). This difference poses a serious problem to the future standard of living for humans around the world. It is impossible for all people to live the life of a classic suburban, American family. There is not enough space, water, or natural resources. Many climate experts are recommending that birth rates become controlled so as to limit our effect on the planet.

Population growth can be controlled through increased education for women, increased investment in family planning, and increasing access to contraception. Women who are more educated have less children and it is estimated that 130 million women around the world are unilaterally denied access to education (Dreyfuss). Education likely decreases birth rates for a multitude of reasons. For one, women who are educated are not being married off young to have children. Similarly, women with increased education may favor pursuing a job instead of settling down with a family right away. Increased sexual and contraception education can also empower women to have children on their own accord and limit the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (Anderson). However, it is not enough to educate women, family planning resources and contraception must be invested in to make sure women have control over their reproductive health. It is projected that climate related health costs will be around $1 trillion per year in the future (Anderson). Being proactive and investing now in the education and empowerment of women to make their own reproductive choices will not only improve the livelihoods of women around the world, but potentially mitigate negative climate effects in the future.

However, the implementation of populationism must be approached warily. A feminist critique of populationism is that the ideology behind it lies on the basis of previous mindsets of western colonialism and racist attitudes (Hendrixon). Often times, discussions of decreasing birth rates revolve around countries in Africa and Latin America by experts who do not live in those countries. While these conversations may be well intentioned in mitigating the effects of climate change, ethical and racial concerns need to be taken into account when making decisions into where and why money is being invested. The focus of populationism needs to be on educating and uplifting women and their decision to have children, not in controlling their bodies.

Finally, an important step forward in improving the climate situation is by empowering women in education and increasing their prominence in leadership rolls. In a study observing companies in India, it was found that having women on a board of directors increased compliance with and reporting of climate regulations as well as ethical climate decision making (Charumathi). However, in accordance with critical mass theory, it was found that there needed to be at least three women on the board of directors in order to make perceptible, lasting difference (Charumathi). From Charumathi’s study it can be seen that ethical climate decisions are made inside companies that have women in leadership roles. Worldwide, women have been denied access to corporate settings due to structural roadblocks caused by patriarchal cultural standards. In the current climate situation, it is no longer acceptable (if it ever was) for women to be excluded from leadership positions in the workplace. Compliance with environmental standards is imperative for future sustainability, and women in positions of power can get us there.

Uplifting women in the workforce is necessary not only in large scale settings, but in small scale settings as well. Wangari Maathai and her Greenbelt Movement is a perfect case study of the value in women’s voices in creating sustainable, equitable societies. In a speech by Maathai to a UN Women’s Conference in 1995 she states the Greenbelt Movement “encourages women to create jobs, prevent soil loss, slow the processes of desertification, loss of bio-diversity and plant and to eat indigenous foodcrops,” (Maathai). Maathai emphasizes the intersectionality of creating a more sustainable future through science, tradition, and the economy. Traditionally, women are seen as the caretaker and provider for families and Maathai argues that these very attributes, when nurtured with freedom, education, and empowerment can provide a more sustainable future for all. Her commitment to uplifting women entrepreneurs and farmers with knowledge of sustainable strategies has changed lives throughout the region and her groundbreaking theory earned Maathai a Nobel Peace Prize in 2004. It cannot be ignored that Maathai herself is a woman, and if her own education and leadership development created such drastic impact, imagine the change that could be made by providing equal opportunities free of patriarchal constraints for all women worldwide.

Climate change is the largest threat human society has ever faced. However, women are particularly vulnerable to the negative consequences of climate change due to the patriarchal structure of societies around the world. Discussions about climate change solutions must take into consideration the experiences of women around the world and the particular threats they face in order to improve climate justice. Luckily, the solution to both climate change and inequalities faced by women lies within reach. For centuries, women across the globe- 50% of the population- have been limited in their education and opportunities. Imagine how much progress we could make employing 100% of the minds on Earth. By empowering women, society will be setting up our greatest chance for success. While sometimes daunting and terrifying, the threat of climate change is offering us an opportunity for increased gender equality and justice which we must seize.

Abstract:Climate change will cause global suffering for years to come because of increasing severe and damaging storms, a decrease in farmable land, and a decrease in the clean freshwater supply. Already, preexisting inequalities are becoming more polarized due to the social and economic consequences of ecological change. This article will be focusing the role gender inequality has to play in evaluating the social consequences and solutions to climate change. Women hold a greater burden of negative consequences of climate change, yet are also a key factor in finding a solution. The empowerment of women in rural and corporate fields, as well as increased sexuality education will improve climate justice worldwide and slow the progression of climate change. However, a feminist perspective will be applied to the argument of birth control implementation in “developing nations” to examine the potential biases and bigoted attitudes that must be considered. Climate change is the greatest threat to our future, and we will only be able to find solutions through the empowerment of women.

References:

1. Abedin A, Collins AE, Habiba U, Shaw R. Climate change, water scarcity, and health adaptation in Southwestern Coastal Bangladesh. Int J Disaster Risk Sci. 2019. December, 10. 28–42.
2. Anderson, D. J. 2019. “Population and the environment — time for another contraception revolution.” The New England Journal of Medicine, 381(5), 397–399. doi:http://dx.doi.org.libproxy.lib.unc.edu/10.1056/NEJMp1906733.
3. Charumathi, B., & Rahman, H. 2019. “Do women on boards influence climate change disclosures to CDP? — evidence from large Indian companies.” Australasian Accounting Business & Finance Journal, 13(2), 5–31. http://libproxy.lib.unc.edu/login?url=https://www-proquest-com.libproxy.lib.unc.edu/scholarly-journals/do-women-on-boards-influence-climate-change/docview/2298712290/se-2?accountid=14244
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7. Hendrixson, Anne, Diana Ojeda, Jade S. Sasser, Sarojini Nadimpally, Ellen E. Foley, & Rajani Bhatia. 2019. “Confronting populationism: Feminist challenges to population control in an era of climate change.” Taylor and Francis Online. 27,2020–3.
8. Maathai, Wangari. August 30, 1995. “Bottlenecks to Development in Africa. 4th UN World Women’s Conference, Beijing, China. https://www.greenbeltmovement.org/wangari-maathai/key-speeches-and-articles/bottleknecks-to-development-in-africa.