Exploring gender and climate justice: A multiscalar analysis of gender mainstreaming in climate change adaption. evidence from Malawi
Citation:
MAHER, JANE, Exploring gender and climate justice: A multiscalar analysis of gender mainstreaming in climate change adaption. evidence from Malawi, Trinity College Dublin.School of Natural Sciences, 2019Download Item:
Abstract:
Climate change impacts are differentiated between communities and individuals, and adaptive capacity is determined by underlying social and economic factors, such as gender. There is a growing emphasis on differing impacts and vulnerabilities of climate change, including a growing body of research on gender and climate change. Despite this, there remain gaps in the literature surrounding how gender is considered across scales. To rectify this, this research conducts a multiscalar analysis of climate justice issues regarding gender within climate change adaptation. It draws on a multi-method, embedded case study approach, including an intersectional lens. By examining the trickle-down of gender considerations in climate change policy from the international to the local scale, this research explores the distribution of climate change adaptation resources, based on gender mainstreaming, to communities in the Lower Shire Valley in Malawi. This research indicates that there is a clear transfer of gendered language from international to national policy, and on to subnational implementation. At local level, the findings show an observed gender balance in climate change adaptation activities in the Lower Shire Valley, however, this does not translate to women's empowerment. This research shows that women maintain a lower adaptive capacity to climate change and its impacts, as compared to other groups within the community. This thesis also provides novel insight into the differentiated understanding of vulnerability between policy-makers and communities. While policy makers view women as the most climate vulnerable, people in the Shire Valley attribute vulnerability to capability and do not see women as necessarily vulnerable. Finally, by using an intersectional lens, the research explores local experiences of climate change and access to adaptation across more diverse groups than merely a male/female divide, showing how age, household structure and land status have implications on adaptation. Finally, the research highlights the need for policy-makers to adopt more meaningful gender mainstreaming actions in climate change adaptation activities, moving beyond the application of gender balance as the key measure within policies.
Sponsor
Grant Number
Irish Research Council (IRC)
Trinity College Dublin (TCD)
Description:
APPROVED
Author: MAHER, JANE
Advisor:
Davies, AnnaPublisher:
Trinity College Dublin. School of Natural Sciences. Discipline of GeographyType of material:
ThesisAvailability:
Full text availableKeywords:
Gender, Vulnerability, Climate Change AdaptationMetadata
Show full item recordLicences: