The Gendered Impact of Natural Disasters in Sri Lanka: A Cross-Realm Analysis of Vulnerability and Capacity

Research has found that women are particularly affected by natural disasters. Findings from events such as the Asian tsunami to the hurricanes in the Gulf Coast show that women tend to be more adversely affected during and after natural disasters compared to men. Therefore this dissertation examines how the major actors involved in disaster risk reduction and recovery processes account for, incorporate and socially construct gender in their work, as well as transfer their understandings of gender amongst themselves. This research looks specifically at the discourses on gender coming from international organizations, state entities and local community groups in Sri Lanka. Through a combination of interviews and a review of important texts through critical discourse analysis, this dissertation studies the major challenges to implementing a gender lens in natural disaster work. This research explores how values and expectations of gender roles translate into disaster programs and policies, potentially maintaining gender inequality despite efforts at gender mainstreaming. The dissertation argues that one of the principal challenges in terms of incorporating gender is the view that gender is a Western product, a colonizing term that seeks to impose Western values upon Sri Lankan society. It also reveals the perception, held in particular by some members of the international community and the Sri Lankan state, that gender is a dangerous concept that threatens to break up the Sri Lankan family structure. By unveiling this resistance towards gender, this research provides insights into how disaster programs can better incorporate gender concerns.