A Review of Importance of Gender Mainstreaming in Disaster Risk Reduction

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume III, Issue VIII, August 2019 | ISSN 2454–6186

A Review of Importance of Gender Mainstreaming in Disaster Risk Reduction

W.M.G.N. Panampitiya
Department of Sociology, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka

Abstract: – Main intention of this article is to analyse the importance of gender mainstreaming in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in in order to reduce the gap gaps and to enhance gender equality in the fields of adaptation methods, resilience actions and reduction of disaster risk. This study has used literature review method and relevant literature have been analysed based on descriptive analysis according to the purposes of the study. The purposive sampling method was used to select relevant literature. This study has been analysed under some major parts namely definitions of Disaster and its classification, Disaster risk and Disaster Risk Reduction, Mainstreaming gender for Disaster Risk Reduction. This study shows the significance of mainstreaming gender in Disaster Risk Reduction from the level of policy making to community implementations.

Key words: Gender, Gender Equality, Gender Mainstreaming, Disaster, Disaster Risk Reduction.

I. INTRODUCTION

Gender can be simply defined as social interpretations regarding responsibilities and roles of male and female. Hence gender is a set of social construction refers to the duties and responsibilities based on their sex. Gender refers to the set of learned expectations, behaviours, and attitudes about being a man or woman from biologically determined traits – collectively termed our sex” (Rolleri, 2013). Gender is shaped by social relations, culture and social norms and values. It normally has profound effects of access and management of natural resources, decision making, behaviour and authority regarding households and community. On the other hand, nature has a universal power to decide the existence of the all living beings and it has performing precious roles related to the survival of human as well from the history of human civilization (Panampitiya, 2018). As a result of unsustainable agricultural practises, social and economic behaviours with focusing the maximum use of technology in order to accumulate and utilize natural resource into the development process and economic growth, fertility of nature is depleting rapidly. As a result of this process, disasters have become a common phenomenon and occurring frequency and intensity of natural disasters have increased in modern society. Disaster pose a serious threat to the normal life, livelihood of people, process of development, lose of human lives, property and assets and environmental losses. Impact of disasters are multidimensional, and it can affect all aspects including social, economic and environmental.

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