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International Journal of Applied Research and Studies (iJARS)
ISSN: 2278-9480 Volume VI, Issue 11 (Nov – 2017)
www.ijars.ijarsgroup.com
Manuscript Id: iJARS/1520 1
Authors Copy; Restricted to Personal Use Only any manipulation will be against Copyright Policy @ iJARS Group
Research Article
Socio–cultural Factors Influencing Women to be more vulnerable in
Natural Disasters: A Qualitative Review on Tamil Nadu state
Authors:
1A.P.H.S. Jayarathne, 2V. Suresh Babu*
Address For correspondence:
Associate Professor, Centre for Climate Change and Disaster Mitigation
National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Ministry of Rural Development,
Government of India
Rajendranagar, Hyderabad - 500 030
I. INTRODUCTION
South Asia is one of the most vulnerable areas of an increasingly disaster-impacted world, with floods,
droughts cyclones and earthquakes causing several casualties and disrupting lives and livelihoods every
year. India is one of the most vulnerable countries to natural disasters (Gokhale, 2008). The country has
faced a number of natural disasters in the last decade which have claimed hundreds thousands of precious
lives and heavy economic losses. It has been observed that more than half of the victims in the past disasters
were women. Yet the impacts of disasters are not equally distributed across the peoples of the region.
Women and men experience disaster differently, and their needs in the aftermath of disaster are often differ.
Women are especially hard-hit by the social impacts of environmental disasters. Existing inequalities are the
root cause for women’s disaster vulnerability. Global forces and social changes placing more people at
greater risk of disaster also disproportionately impact women specially in Indian context. Highly vulnerable
women have specific needs and interests before, during, and after disasters. Women’s socialposition in the
society makes them more vulnerable to natural hazards, they are not helpless victims. Women are
particularly vulnerable because they have fewer resources in their own right. They have no place in decision
- making systems and they suffer traditional, routine and gratuitous gender-biased oppression. By virtue of
their lower economic and social status, women tend to be more vulnerable to disasters.
sureshnird@gmail.com *Corresponding Author E-Mail Id DOI: 10.20908/ijars.v6i11.10429
International Journal of Applied Research and Studies (iJARS)
ISSN: 2278-9480 Volume VI, Issue 11 (Nov – 2017)
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Manuscript Id: iJARS/1520 2
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II. RATIONALE
Disasters lower the life expectancy of women more than the life expectancy of men. On an average, natural
hazards and their subsequent impacts kill more women than men or kill women at an earlier age than men
(Neumayeret al.,2007). In various disasters in South India the higher mortality among women is evident. It
could be identified that socio-cultural factors play an integral part in increasing the vulnerability of the
women. The impact of these factors for the vulnerability tend to be different based on state and how much
religion being a part of the society. This paper tries to identify the influence of socio-cultural factors in
influencing the vulnerability of women with special reference to the South Indian context.The main
objective of the study is to investigate socio–cultural factors influencing women to be more vulnerable in
natural disasters with a special reference to Tamil Nadu state.
III. LITERATURE REVIEW
Disasters have had an impact on the lives of women all around the world. Generally women are looked at in
disasters only as victims despite the fact that the majority of victims in disasters are women. During the last
major natural disasters of the decade it has been observed that South Indian women were affected largely
none other than any other population stratification. Women’s social position in the society makes them more
vulnerable to natural hazards. Different socio-cultural factors exist within the society before a disaster and
cause serious vulnerability among women. Women tend to suffer more injuries and die more frequently
during most disasters. Women are 14 times more likely than men to die in disasters (Bradshaw and
Fordham, 2013).
Pre-disaster vulnerabilities among women play a major role in determining the impacts of disasters. Based
on the local culture and practice, women in India are primarily active in the domestic realm, without
educational attainments or financial independence. Women’s vulnerability is connected to their generally
lower socio-economic status. In India cultural practices like the pardah system (the seclusion of women) that
does not allow girls to go to school, marrying girls at an early age, the dowry system, and patriarchal
practices limit the opportunities for girls and women (Bhadra, 2017).
During the disaster situation women tend to suffer more injuries and die more frequently. Maternal and
reproductive aspects of women cause more chances of infection, injured women often are attended after
men by the family members and many other factors that are associated with higher mortality rate of women
in disaster. In disasters, higher death rates of women were linked with their traditions (Pittaway et al., 2007).
Women’s vulnerability to disasters is also shaped by traditional gender roles, power and privilege, low
wages, and secondary responsibilities such as child care (Enarson et al., 2006).
In post-disaster situations, women had significantly higher functional disabilities and suffered from various
forms of violence (Basu et al., 2003). The breakdown of the traditional family and community-based
support systems disproportionately impact women after disasters (Kimerling et al., 2009). Women continue
to face multiple difficulties in their personal, family, and community lives that are characterized by
domestic ties, imposed restrictions, and limited livelihood options. (UN Women, 2016) Reproductive health
issues and this psychosocial stress are very closely associated after a disaster (Bhalla, 2011). Women
suffered from high levels of stress and trauma and had no other options except to pray and endure an
International Journal of Applied Research and Studies (iJARS)
ISSN: 2278-9480 Volume VI, Issue 11 (Nov – 2017)
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imposed restricted indoor social life. Maternal health and reproductive health systems are closely connected
to the mental health of women (Sekar et al., 2005).
Through the literature review, it could be identified that many scholars have paid the attention on the
vulnerability of women in the general. There are number of text which highlights on the factors which cause
vulnerability prior to a disaster, at the time of disaster and after disaster situation. But there is much less
attention paid that these factors could be related to socio-cultural structure of the state that the natural
disaster has occurred.
IV. METHODOLOGY
The study has initially based on the Villupuram block which is part of the Villuparam coastal district that
belongs to the state of Tamil Nadu in South India. The studied coastal region is inclusive of 19 coastal
habitants and the collection of data is constricted to the Villupuram block. The region has faced the natural
disasters such as floods and they have also severely suffered from the Tsunami occurred in the year 2004.
This study has utilized case studies to be carried out as a as a qualitative study and through interviews
carried out with three key informants in the area who have worked during the disaster situations. In the
selection of the case studies, purposive sampling method has been utilized from the Villlupuram coastal
region. The participants of the case studies have been both males and females, whose female family member
has been affected by a natural disaster either through death or serious injury. In the analysis of case studies,
qualitative analyzing techniques have been used and to identify the key ideas of the participants Word Cloud
technique has also been utilized.
V. DISCUSSION
Vulnerability of women in a period of disaster has been identified through many contexts. The analysis of
this study has been specially categorized in to three parts such as the socio-cultural factors influencing the
vulnerability for women prior to a disaster, at the time of the disaster and during the post-disaster situation
to obtain a thorough understanding of these factors.
VI. SOCIO-CULTURAL FACTORS OF VULNERABILITY PRIOR TO A DISASTER
In the evaluation for the socio-cultural factors that embark the vulnerability of women prior to a disaster,
one of the most important factors that could be identified is the lack of education and awareness on the
disasters and the mitigation. Women, who have played a submissive role through the younger ages, are not
empowered to act instantly taking the leadership.
“With the conventional background of the societies in these villages, the women in the
village are most often depended on their male counterparts. They are not given any
opportunities to come forward and play an active role in the society. As a result of that, even
during the time of a disaster it could be observed that they are waiting to be rescued and
panicked rather than taking an action according to the situation.”
- A professor conducting research on disaster in a gender based perspective
International Journal of Applied Research and Studies (iJARS)
ISSN: 2278-9480 Volume VI, Issue 11 (Nov – 2017)
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When the factors making women more vulnerable during the pre stage of a disaster is further concerned,
even though the habitants are resided in a coastal area, since they consider sea-water as the God women
particularly deals less with the water. According to the interviews with the key informants, it could be
identified that majority of the women in the area do not have the capability of swimming though they face
floods throughout the year.
“… in these villages, the people very much believe in the region and culture. They consider
the sea- water very godly manner. This has resulted women to interact less with water as by
the culture women are considered impure and not worthy of serving the god. Even though
these villages are surrounded by the ocean, women hardly spend the time in the sea-water or
has any talent in swimming.” - District Disaster Management officer – Villupuram district
This indicates that prior preparation measures are less among women and has made them more vulnerable
during a disaster. It could also be observed through the interviews that these factors identified are blended
with the culture of the Indian society.
VII. SOCIO-CULTURAL FACTORS OF VULNERABILITY DURING A DISASTER
When examined the factors that would increase the vulnerability of the women during a disaster period, the
main factor that could be identified is the clothing of the women. Most traditional Indian women drape the
saree even when engaged in the daily activities. As saree is a lengthy clothing draped around the body,
during a disaster situation like floods, when this multiple restrictive clothing got drenched with water, it
makes an individual move slowly and act less faster. When examined the literature, this has been identified
by most of the scholars who have studied about the vulnerability of women during a time of a disaster.
As in most of the Asian societies, a woman’s attachment is stronger towards the husband and the children.
So during the time of the disaster, women tend to attend for the protection of their husbands and children
before attending for their own safety, resulting more vulnerability among them. At the same time, as the
valuables such as jewellery plays an integral part in the culture, they tend to collect all their valuables during
a disaster situation risking their own lives.
“….we have only one son, he is everything to us. My wife couldn’t come to a place of safety
as she was carrying the baby and on time she has been able to hand over the child to person,
but she got caught in the flood and lost her leg due to an infection which has caused
afterwards. But I thank the god that we were able to bring the son to safety.”
- A 49 years old villager whose wife has been injured during a flooding
This situation is also closely related giving prominence to the males in the process of rescuing. The
community would give higher importance in providing safety to male children rather than females even
during a disaster situation. The social status given to a woman by the society plays a very important role and
it has a great impact in making women more or less vulnerable in a disaster situation.
Sexuality is a topic often less spoken in a cultured household setting in most Indian societies. During a
disaster situation, it is more likely to lose the clothing in the process of survival. But Indian women, being
growing up in a surrounding of sexual objectification and insecurities of the body, tend not to seek for
International Journal of Applied Research and Studies (iJARS)
ISSN: 2278-9480 Volume VI, Issue 11 (Nov – 2017)
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protection due to the lack of privacy they feel with lack of clothing in their body. Rather than finding shelter
or protection, they are more likely to stay hidden until the disaster is over. In such situations, it is more
likely for women to end their life with death.
Status of pregnancy creates more vulnerability among women during a disaster situation. Not only it makes
them difficult in the rescuing process but also they are more vulnerable to complications in the health during
a disaster. Since they are less number of women participation in the rescuing process, at times there is not a
single female to be found to console a pregnant woman. This could make a pregnant woman more traumatic
and difficult when she is in such a sensitive status.
“..There was one situation where we had to take a pregnant woman to a nearby hospital as
soon as possible as she was to deliver the baby. Before she was put into the trolley another
dead body was taken there and it has been seen by this pregnant lady and she disinclined to
get in to the trolley. At a situation like this, that pregnant lady could have face severe
difficulties in her delivery with traumatic experiences of the natural disaster. In such a
situation if there had been more females in the rescuing process where a woman could be by
her side to calm her, it could have been greatly valued. That is why we need to empower
more females and protect other females from being vulnerable to the situation.”
VIII. A RED CROSS OFFICER FOR TAMIL NADU STATE
It can be identified through the case studies that most of the factors influencing the vulnerability among
women occur during the disaster period. It could be highlighted that multi-restrictive clothing of the women
have influenced the chances of surviving for women as well as the other factors such as the attachment
towards the children and valuables, prominence given for men in the process of rescuing and the way that
sexuality had been defined in the South Indian society.
IX. SOCIO-CULTURAL FACTORS OF VULNERABILITY AFTER A DISASTER
Considered the post disaster situation, women are more vulnerable in facing sexual harassments and to
trafficking once they are resided at the resettlement camps. Primarily there is lack of privacy in the camps,
and as literature indicates, they are to wait till the night to attend the hygiene of their body, which put them
at the risk in health-wise. This could also leads to certain infections during the menstrual period of the
females, if they have less opportunity to maintain the proper hygiene. On the other hand, once it is evident
that they have lose the protection of the male counterparts in the family, they are being taken as traffickers
and are also tend to face harassments within the camp itself.
Depression and anxiety are two of the most common situations that could be observed among females
during a post-disaster situation. This situation is more likely to occur with the loss of family and the sexual
harassments and the violence they have experienced through. These situations could often lead to suicides,
making women more vulnerable in the period of disaster.
“…one of the most common health-related issues that I have experienced at these
resettlement camps is the depression and anxiety, especially among the women. Most of
them undergo the post- traumatic situations once they come to realization that they have lost
International Journal of Applied Research and Studies (iJARS)
ISSN: 2278-9480 Volume VI, Issue 11 (Nov – 2017)
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their husband, son or the valuables they belonged. As they have been so much indoor
centered and dependable, they worry about the future, as mostly in these conventional
societies females have been given a lower status.”
- A doctor who has been working in resettlement camps
In a post-disaster situation, it could be recognized that women are more likely to be vulnerable as they lose
the protection of the males and they become more liable for being trafficked. At the same time, their loss of
the family members and property had put them in a traumatic situation making them a vulnerable group
after the occurrence of a disaster.
X. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
The reality of being born as women limits women’s opportunities and always poses challenges for survival
and existence and more often professionals have identified the need to alter social structures that go beyond
disaster-related work. The factors affecting the vulnerability of the women prior to a disaster are mainly
intervened with the culture of the society and the social status offered to the women in the society. In this
study it has been identified the submissive role played by the women in the society and less awareness and
education provided on the basics of preparedness.
It can be identified through the case studies that most of the factors influencing the vulnerability among
women occur during the disaster period. It could be highlighted that multi-restrictive clothing of the women
have influenced the chances of surviving for women as well as the other factors such as the attachment
towards the children and valuables, prominence given for men in the process of rescuing and the way that
sexuality had been defined in the South Indian society.
It has been recognized by the study that women become more vulnerable after a disaster due to the loss of
the protection and security where they tend to undergo depression and anxiety. This situation is often
magnitude by the lack of privacy they face in these camps and lack of facilities for the personal hygiene.
They are also likely to be sexually harassed specially in the resettlement camps where they are tend to be
trafficked once they lose the protection of the male counterpart.
Through the above conclusion the following measures could be recommended to make women a less
vulnerable group during a period of disaster and to make them play an active role in reconstruction.
Primarily, awareness to be prepared for a disaster should be given to women as they are mostly to be in the
household and less-informed on what is occurring in the outside environment. At the same time they should
also be empowered in taking leadership at a time of a disaster rather than waiting for their male counterparts
to come and rescue them. Quite similarly, they should be educated on the value of their life, rather than the
impulse they have on to protect other family members. Immediate attention should also be paid to the
resettlement camps with regard to the security and the protection of the females, where they would be given
the required privacy and other facilities to maintain the biological sanitation.
International Journal of Applied Research and Studies (iJARS)
ISSN: 2278-9480 Volume VI, Issue 11 (Nov – 2017)
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