Women, Men and Lgbtiqa+ People in Disasters

Gendered impacts of disaster are different depending on culture and socio-economic status. This session offers reflection and insights into how disasters and emergency management affect women, men and LGBTIQA+ people. Disaster risk, experience and legacy are influenced by gender, with other aspects of marginality or privilege exacerbating or mitigating outcomes for disaster survivors. Of central concern in Australia, is the increase of domestic violence and men’s self-harm and suicide in disaster contexts. This echoes similar findings in other countries from Iran to Pakistan, the UK to the US. Strategies exist to counter and prevent these damaging social consequences of disaster. This session will highlight effective strategies for strong individual and community disaster survival, and further, it influences emergency management to strengthen capacity through attention to gender.