World leaders and organisations continuously develop strategies to address development challenges, particularly gender issues. Gender mainstreaming plays a key role in ensuring equality and equity for women, yet significant challenges persist. Climate change, a globally recognised phenomenon, not only exacerbates security concerns but also deepens gender disparities, expanding the scope of gender mainstreaming efforts.
The gender mainstreaming strategy integrates a gender equality perspective into policies at all levels and stages, aiming for equal access to services, participation in decision-making, and fair treatment of both women and men. Despite numerous policies promoting gender justice, women remain disproportionately affected by climate change.
The real-world impacts of climate change make women more vulnerable and disadvantaged despite ongoing efforts. The traditional way of life in poorer regions can be fatal for women during disasters, as seen in the 1991 cyclone in Bangladesh, where the female death rate was nearly five times higher than that of men due to limited access to information and resources.
Climate hazards fuel rising numbers of abandoned women and children, child marriages, domestic violence, divorce, and economic hardships. Many people from Bhola and other districts in Bangladesh have become climate refugees, forced into urban slums where women struggle to secure basic amenities.
The southwestern coastal zones of Bangladesh face persistent climate-related disasters. Cyclones Sidr (2007), Aila (2009), and Amphan (2020) have worsened conditions for women, particularly due to saltwater intrusion in groundwater. Traditional norms place the burden of water collection on women, making their struggles even more pronounced in disaster-prone areas. Financial stress from climate hazards further contributes to domestic violence, especially in charland regions, where sexual violence and intimate partner abuse are prevalent amid environmental instability.
For centuries, traditional societies denied women formal education. While progress has been made, climate change now threatens these advancements. Land loss, water crises, food insecurity, financial instability, displacement, gender-based violence, and extreme weather endanger women's access to education, particularly in disaster-prone regions.
The objectives of gender mainstreaming undoubtedly support a gender-neutral society where individuals are not judged or discriminated against based on gender. However, it is essential to acknowledge that both gender roles and climate change are human-induced constructs. As patriarchal systems continue to suppress women's rights, climate change exacerbates these injustices. Though gender mainstreaming is a powerful strategy, its effectiveness is challenged by emerging crises that disproportionately burden women.
Md. Arafat Azad
Lecturer in Sociology
Majida khatun Govt. Women's College, Lalmonirhat
arafatazad30@gmail.com
