Role of gender and political connectedness after extreme events in coastal Bangladesh

Abstract

This study focuses on how gender and political engagement contribute to disaster management in Bangladesh, specifically in disaster relief and rehabilitation. It is based on empirical evidence from southwest coastal Bangladesh, particularly in Dacope Upazila, and applies a mixed-method approach. Results show that gender has a significant influence on the acquisition of post-disaster relief and rehabilitation supports. Females, including those widowed and divorced, get more relief than males. Nevertheless, older women are not given priority for aftermath disaster relief. Moreover, gender plays a vital role in the household’s overall economic strength and is crucial for disaster resilience. Furthermore, respondents’ families who were, in some way, closely connected with local social and political leaders, obtained more relief and aids. The results indicate that socio-political connectedness, irrespective of gender, still dominates local decision-making processes in disaster recovery. Alongside women’s empowerment, regular monitoring and evaluation of relief and rehabilitation programs must improve, to reduce the traditional barriers to effective disaster management (arising from (dis)connectedness to local social power) in the face of climate change.