Mains- GS-1 Society
1. While catastrophes affect people at large, the economical, sociological and psychological impact of it on women is significant.
2. Data indicate the need to address this during and after these catastrophic episodes.
When women were affected the most?
2004 Tsunami
1. The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami affected the coastlines of countries in the region, including India with a fourth of people killed/listed missing being women.
2. This is because the traditional ‘caregiver’ role played by women makes them stay around their loved ones to keep them safe. Also, women lack many life skills such as swimming and climbing.
3. During tsunami recovery phases women face difficulties like abuse by men in the camps of aid organizations and government.
4. Gender-skewed tsunami deaths resulted in a disproportionate gender ratio where men largely outnumbered women.
5. Women also faced hygiene challenges in these camps due to inadequate sanitation facilities.
US Tornado
In the United States that has a high incidence of tornadoes, families headed by women are affected the most.
COVID-19 pandemic
1. According to World Health Organization data, around 70% of the world’s health workers are women, 79% of nurses are women.
2. Health workers, in general, are highly vulnerable and not ensuring their safety is a high risk that can severely impact the health system.
3. India has a million-plus accredited social health activist (ASHA) workers who are an integral part of its health system and work at ground level.
4. Incidents of attacks on ASHAs on COVID-19 duty are reported. Stringent action against these attacks is needed to ensure their professional safety.
Which ways do women get affected?
Unemployment
1. Women often are engaged in sector-specific employment which when impacted results in unemployment. Women are also engaged in post-calamity care, missing job opportunities.
2. An economic slowdown also leaves women with additional wage cuts, on a paradigm where pay disparity between genders is a norm.
3. In Kerala, after the floods in 2018-19, thousands were housed in relief camps. There was considerable added domestic work by women.
Household work
1. Traditional roleplay is still prevalent in most sections of Indian society and the equal division of household responsibilities among couples is still distant.
2. Women from all strata face substantial additional household work.
3. The fear of job loss and reduced income can create mental pressure on women, in turn affecting their physical well-being.
4. The lower income groups are already facing job losses and anxiety is leading to domestic tensions and violence against women.
5. A large number of daily wageworkers resort to alcohol consumption. And the ban on alcohol sales during the lockdown is contributing to domestic tensions, leading to women abuse.
6. According to the 2015-16 National Family Health Survey, around 30% of women in the age group 15 to 49 years face domestic violence.
7. As per a report, the National Commission for Women has received the highest complaints relating to crimes against women during lockdown related to domestic violence.
Depression
1. Hormone-induced depression among women also needs to be understood and acknowledged. Women are twice as likely to face depression compared to men.
2. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) among re-productive age groups, pregnancy-related depressive conditions, postpartum depression (PPDs) among new mothers as well as premenopausal and menopausal symptoms are common, interfering in everyday life and relationships.
How to address this?
1. Assign ASHA workers to specifically address women’s welfare during this pandemic
2. Set up exclusive cells to quickly address domestic violence and women’s health-related issues, including men in conversations, and even online counselling for alcoholism in men.
3. Rope in non-governmental organisations, psychology students, teachers and volunteers and also use technology platforms that would help to speed up the action.
4. Develop a cult
Sure of including women’s safety in the planning phase irrespective of the nature of the crisis.
5. Gender parity needs to be a conscious act. In online counselling, a well-trained and gender-inclusive team can handle such calls well.
Source: The Hindu