Can We Achieve Climate Justice Without Gender Justice?

Published October 15, 2009 @ 07:38PM PT

Today is Blog Action Day and the topic this year is Climate Change. I am a strong believer that we need to take drastic efforts to reduce the human impact on Mother Nature - save energy, reduce our addiction to oil (and red meat), recycle and compost - those are just the first steps. But I will say, it is hard to ask human beings to treat the Earth better when we can't even treat each other with enough respect to achieve global gender justice at the same time as we seek climate justice.

And when it comes to climate change - women are in a seemingly symbiotic relationship with Mother Nature as they are often disproportionally effected by the declining state of the environment as seen in this article by Care.org:

Women often lack the assets they need to build their resilience to a changing climate, said Christina Chan, a CARE senior policy analyst who participated in the march. The missing resources include land, credit, access to support services, new technologies and a place in decision-making bodies. The results can be tragic in disasters such as the back-to-back typhoons ravaging Southeast Asia this week.

''More women are injured or killed during hurricanes, floods and cyclones,'' Chan said. ''They are less likely to hear official warnings and to be able to swim or to escape quickly, especially if carrying young children. They are also less mobile than men, confined to their homes.''

In seeing how this relationship is intertwined it becomes clear that it's not about climate justice versus gender justice, but rather they must be mutually achieved.

Can we do both?

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Comments (16)

This is a real issue and thank you for sharing this, Jen.

I would also add that in many parts of the world, people depend on local economies. The poorest of the poor are disproportionately affected by climate change because drought, a flood, a typhoon, etc. will ruin their immediate land, erode it, and so on, greatly reducing their livelihood.

On top of this, like you said, it is men who are more mobile and can go out and look for other resources. However, most people in poverty cannot secure any resources that can help them (such as importing food from anywhere else, or installing an irrigation system that would pump water from far away, etc), and within the poorest of the poor, the women are at a greater disadvange. Since many women are not allowed to receive an education or go out and be entrepreneurial, they are affected even more when climate change changes their environment. They are not as free as men to go look for opportunity elsewhere.

That is why Fair Trade is one way to help women in impoverished communities secure a better life. It's not just about "price floors" or a healthy working environment, but also about helping the women get an education (formal or vocational), build capacity, get access to loans, get access to markets, and secure a better life for themselves. They become independent, respected, decision makers in their communities, and are able to withstand climate change effects better.

Posted by Juan Portillo on 10/16/2009 @ 08:56AM PT
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Women also need access to communication devices that allow them to contact the men responsible for rearing the children. Texting is an inexpensive option for keeping men accountable. With the right technology, women could track their men AND notify them of any emergency situations.

Posted by Turk Fowler on 10/16/2009 @ 03:23PM PT
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Mr. fowler...

I find 2 flaws with your statements here.

1 : It isnt just men who rear children...Women do as well and in many cases they are the only ones rearing them.

2 : Women shouldnt be so dependant on men that they cant take care of themselves or their children in an emergency situation.

But yes...They do need greater and better resources.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/17/2009 @ 12:04PM PT
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Exactly - any men who try to avoid their responsibilities should be required to wear pagers or other devices to track them.

I read something about an electronic shirt that you can actually 'text' messages on. "Bill, the kids need a doctor" or "Hey, your alimony payment is late AGAIN!" scrolling across the guys shirt would be an alternative to shame some men into dealing with their responsibilities.

Posted by Turk Fowler on 10/17/2009 @ 12:13PM PT
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Thats all well and good mr. fowler although I wouldnt expect those types of men being willing to wear those types of shirts...

And again...Why should women be so dependant on men that they cant take care of themselves if need be ?

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/19/2009 @ 03:52PM PT
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Turk, if you think a pager is going to replace a working conscience, I'd have to say you're dreaming. Without the pagers, can you smell the serenity?

Posted by Oceania OZ on 10/19/2009 @ 04:07PM PT
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Thomas - Women don't 'have' to be dependent on men but men should have to wear the shirts or at least a hat with the scrolling reminders.

Oceania - Weren't you the plane on 'Lost'? Anyway, without pagers, I can smell the serenity...especially if the dudes are wearing texting shirts with 'Buy Milk' or 'Child support is Due!' across their chests.

I know, I'm a dreamer. Imagine there's a text shirt, it's easy if you try, No hell below us, Above only earth and sky...

Posted by Turk Fowler on 10/20/2009 @ 11:19AM PT
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Mr. fowler...

Why not just teach men from an early age to be more responsable ?

Besides...My point in my earlier post was that to get men to wear potentialy embarrasing clothing...You would have to legislate it which then gets into the whole "You cant legislate morality" thing.

One more thing...

Im glad that we both agree that women "dont" have to be dependant on men but I get the impression from you that you would prefer that theyre dependant on men...

Would you clarify your meaning please.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/21/2009 @ 05:28PM PT
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Sprung! Dharma is my middle name.

Posted by Oceania OZ on 10/20/2009 @ 07:23PM PT
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Clarify please...

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/21/2009 @ 05:29PM PT
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Dharma was the name of the organization behind the "Lost" storyline. Dharma is also a virtue in India, Buddhist Right Action, right behaviour. Relates easily to your comment about men being more reasonable, but it's more even than that. Get your Dharma right and the outcome is a clear conscience. Heck, I can TASTE the serenity!

Posted by Oceania OZ on 10/21/2009 @ 05:38PM PT
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Intriguing...

Thank you miss oz.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/25/2009 @ 01:57PM PT
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Thomas - "I get the impression from you that you would prefer that theyre dependant on men..." Wrong impression, I think women and men should avoid each other at all costs...it works our better that way...

Oceania - "Heck, I can TASTE the serenity!" - LOL! I forgot about 'Dharma'...although Greg still keeps in touch.

Posted by Turk Fowler on 10/23/2009 @ 09:34AM PT
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Then I would assume that you dont much like women BUT if thats so then why are you even on this blog site ?

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/25/2009 @ 01:59PM PT
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"Then I would assume that you dont much like women BUT if thats so then why are you even on this blog site ?"

Uh-Oh, not that assuming thing, again. That rarely turns out well for the assumer...I got your back, Mr. T. , Follow my lead and keep your head down...

Posted by Turk Fowler on 10/26/2009 @ 12:39PM PT
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Whatever mr. fowler.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/26/2009 @ 08:25PM PT
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Author

Jen Nedeau is a social media consultant, progressive activist, feminist speaker and writer. She currently lives in New York City, where she works full-time as the Director of Digital Strategy at Air America Media. In August 2008, Nedeau was selected to be the Editor of the WomensRights.Change.Org where she facilitates daily discussion about the feminist movement. Additionally, Nedeau volunteers as the Chief Technology Officer for New Leaders Council, a non-profit that offers exclusive training for young leaders. You can follow her on Twitter @HumanFolly or learn more here: www.jennedeau.com.