Gender, culture and climate change in rural Namibia
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Date
2014
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Abstract
Gender-based vulnerabilities have taken dominance in climate change adaptation
and disasters risk management studies. Climate change impacts affect
women’s and men’s livelihoods and cultures, thereby intensifying already existing
gender inequalities. This paper examines gender differentiated impacts and
vulnerability to climate change in Namibia. The paper further highlights how
culture influences gender inequalities and associated implications for climate
change vulnerability among different ethnic communities of Namibia. The data
synthesis for this paper applied the Gender Analysis Framework (GAF) and the
Climate Vulnerability and Capacity Analysis Framework (CVCA) to map out issues
that cause or intensify social vulnerability to climate change in Namibia. Opportunities exist for Namibian women to participate in decision-making, leadership and community-based adaptation programmes. However, there are still feelings of hopelessness among Namibian women in rural areas. This could be caused by cultural attitudes among Namibian societies stemming from long held beliefs that women are weak and should be looked after. Access to information and
ownership of technical skills increase the capacity of men and women to balance
the vulnerability to impacts of climate variability and change. This paper concludes
that climate change impacts are not gender neutral, men and women
vulnerability to climate change is not the same and their adaptive capacities are
differentiated.
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Keywords
Gender, Culture, Climate change, Rural Namibia
Citation
Angula, M.N., & Menjono, E. Gender, culture and climate change in rural Namibia. Journal for Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences, 3 (1&2), 225-238.