Gendered Vulnerability: Unveiling the Disproportionate Impact of Climate Change on Women by Leena Joshi for Feminist
In an interconnected world, the urgent need for sustainable development and social progress has become more evident than ever. Two key issues that demand our attention are gender equality and climate justice.These seemingly disparate concerns are inextricably linked, sharing a common foundation rooted in the pursuit of justice, fairness, and a better future for all.
illustration by Paola Saliby
Growing up, I always knew that I wanted to make a difference in the world. When I was in school I discovered my passion for climate action. I got involved with several organisations in order to advocate for climate action, but I quickly noticed that there was a lack of female representation and leadership in the field.
I began to wonder why there weren’t more women involved in the climate space, and I soon realized that it was because many girls and young women didn’t have access to the education and resources necessary to pursue careers in these fields. And that’s when I decided to start a mentorship program for girls.
The goal of the program was simple: to provide girls with the tools and support they needed to pursue their passions and become leaders in sustainability and climate change. I paired girls with mentors who were already working in the field, and provided them with access to resources, opportunities, and guidance.
“Intersectionality is the idea that social inequality is not just based on one factor, but on the combination of different factors.”
Through the program, I have seen the incredible potential of girls and young women to make a difference in the world. I have seen girls become confident leaders and change-makers. I have seen them take on challenges and overcome obstacles, and inspire others to do the same. I have contributed to combating climate change from mentoring to consulting businesses on reducing their carbon footprint.
To accelerate the pace of making a difference, I decided to interconnect social issues and researched on how they can be resolved by finding intersectionality among them. Intersectionality is a concept that’s been around for a while, but it’s more relevant now than ever before. Intersectionality is the idea that social inequality is not just based on one factor, but on the combination of different factors. It’s important to understand how different issues intersect and impact each other. As women, we know that we face unique challenges in our lives that men do not. We often struggle with equal pay, we’re less likely to be promoted to leadership positions, and we face discrimination and harassment in many areas of our lives. But did you know that women are also disproportionately impacted by climate change? Climate change affects everyone, but it impacts women differently. Women are often responsible for providing resources for their families, and as the effects of climate change become more severe, these responsibilities become even more challenging. For example, when crops fail due to drought or flooding, women are the ones who have to find other sources of food for their families. When water sources dry up, women are the ones who have to travel further to find clean water. In addition to these challenges, women are also more likely to experience the health effects of climate change. As temperatures rise, women are more likely to experience heat stress, which can lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Women are also more likely to experience mental health issues such as depression and anxiety as a result of the stress caused by climate change.
Image source: World Bank
So, what can we do to address the intersectionality of gender equality and climate justice? First, we can support policies and initiatives that prioritize gender equality and climate justice. This could include advocating for policies that support women’s economic empowerment and ensure that women have access to education and healthcare. We can also support initiatives that promote renewable energy and sustainable agriculture, which can help to reduce the impact of climate change. We can take action in our own lives to reduce our carbon footprint and support sustainability. This could include reducing our energy consumption, using public transportation or carpooling. We can also get involved with organisations. These small actions can add up to make a big difference in reducing our impact on the environment and supporting climate justice.
