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Gender Difference in Access to and Control Over Resources During Disaster: the Case of Khulna City Corporation, Southwest Bangladesh

Mosammat Rowshan Ara*
Sociology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh

Mahbuba Nasreen
Institute of Disaster Management and Vulnerability Studies, Dhaka University, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

This study focuses on the gender difference in access to household resources and people’s participation in disaster risk management in Khulna City. The study has adopted both qualitative (case study and focus group discussion) and quantitative (survey) approaches. The data have been collected by using stratified random sampling. To identify the access to and control over resources during disaster seven types of resources are considered to construct the Cumulative Empowerment Index (CEI). These are access to shelter, income, food, infrastructural facility, organizational support, information and participation in emergency situation. The value of R square (0.95) indicates that the aforesaid variables have 95 percent influence on access to and control over resources. In the study area the respondents (61.8%) noted about fire accident as frequently occurred and serious disaster in the locality. Flooding and water logging due to poor drainage are widespread. Eviction is also responsible for disruption of livelihood of the respondents. Another disaster causes vulnerability of the respondents is water logging. From the study it is found that 37.41 percent male household heads were very highly disaster threatened whereas the female were 74.82 percent and no female headed household is in the category of very low disaster-threatened but 4.96 percent male household head belong to this category. Through case study and focus group discussion many strategies like taking out loan, reducing household food expenditure, vegetable cultivation, participation in communitylevel mitigation strategies have been identified and were proposed by the beneficiaries involved in managing disaster risk. Disaster response strategies could protect and assist women as well as men are better for the community as a whole. By empowering citizens and enabling those to request greater equality and accountability these initiatives could play a strong role in helping cities to develop into vibrant and sustainable living environments with equitable economic and social resources.

Keywords: Gender, Disaster, Access, Control, Empowerment, Resource

Location: Khulna City Corporation, Southwest Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Commodity: Performance, Disaster

Objectives:

In the southwest coast including the Khulna area, women are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change since they are often not allowed to participate in public activities and discussions, and therefore are less likely to receive critical information for emergency preparedness. Besides, most climate change policies and programs are not gendered sensitive (Leduc et al., 2008). In many cases, socio-economic factors also hinder women’s adaptation capacities and increase their vulnerability. The study thus discusses different tangible elements of sustainable livelihoods for women within the overarching frame of gender-responsive economic, social and environmental resources.

Methodology:

In this study triangulation has been used to ensure the validation of qualitative results by quantitative studies and to confirm the appropriateness for measuring a concept, to overcome challenges related to a single method, and single theory biasness as identified by Shih (1998). The survey, case study and focus group discussion have been used to identify the access and control over resources of the respondent in disaster situation. After conducting census from the population (1414 household heads) fifty percent (707 household heads) were selected as sample in this study. The unit of analysis of this study is the heads of the households of the selected categories (male, 564; female, 143) of city population who are residing at that locality for at least 10 years and household income is not more than 10000 taka. By using stratified random sampling technique the respondents were selected. The reference year of this study is March, 2014 to December, 2015. The study has been conducted on household heads of purposively selected five areas of: i.) Rupsha slum area (352) ii). Khalishpur slum area (156) iii). Tutpara (127) iv). Nirala (44) and v). Gollamari (28) of Khulna City, Bangladesh. For conducting the focus group discussion the group of 10 respondents (having knowledge about disaster situation) from each area were purposively selected. Moreover for in depth study 10 respondents were considered to assess the access to and control over resources during disaster.

The respondents were selected from vulnerable households. To identify the vulnerable people the estimates of household income for the typical household was considered as based on family income not more than US$ 2 per day. During the field survey the conversion rate of US$ 1 was equivalent to almost Taka 77.63 (Bangladeshi currency). In this regard the households having (78*4=312*30= BDT 9360) not more than Taka 10000 monthly income was considered as study population. However they have no access to 2,100 kcals, or 8,400 kcals in total (Deptford et al., 2013). A five points Likert Scale (1 for least important, 5 for most important) has been used to weigh the indicators following the method of Wyatt and Meyers (1987). In this study CEI is constructed, based on the cumulative empowerment index of Parveen and Leonhäuser (2004).

Cumulative empowerment index (CEI): In this regard seven indicators are used for constructing Cumulative Empowerment Index. Each indicator again has a number of subindicators. The quantitative part correspond to five categories e.g., 1 = very low and 5 = very high. Each indicator assigned a quantitative rank from 1 to 5 according to the total score for access to and control over resources based on the field survey. Table 1 represents the way of constructing the CEI: Measurement of Explained (Dependent) Variables.

The CEI range is divided into five categories and labeled asvery highly disaster prone (27- 36), highly disaster prone (37-46), moderately disaster prone (47-56), low disaster prone (57- 66) and very low disaster prone (67 and above).

Source of Information: Khulna University Studies Volume 14 (1 & 2): 229-241: January-December 2017

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Sustainable cities support the equal participation of women and men, especially in urban planning and management, as well as in governance. The study shows that women have been participated in fulfilling basic need especially in their family, but there is still persistent under-representation by women decision-making at the time of emergency in disaster management. Disaster response strategies that protect and assist women, as well as men, are better for the community as a whole. Women should be effectively engaged in disaster and climate risk management prevention, planning, decision-making and implementation efforts. Moreover governments’ engagement of women’s civil society organizations must be incentivized as a way to overcome their exclusion from decision-making. These initiatives could play a strong role in reducing gender difference in access to and control over resources during disaster and helping the cities to develop sustainable living environments of the urban poor.

Knowledge Management: Journal