Gendered Responses to Climate Change and the Well-Being of Girls and Women

It is well known that the impacts of climate change to health and well-being are exacerbated by existing social inequality. Throughout the world, women face heightened vulnerability to climate stress due to pervasive power imbalances, gender norms, and economic marginalization. Interdisciplinary collaborations that carefully integrate social and physical data are critically needed to foster a deeper understanding of the processes that increase women’s exposure. In this talk, I share findings from recent work examining the effects of extreme weather on early and forced marriage, intimate partner violence, and social isolation of girls and women. I will discuss these trends in relation to recent progress in the opportunities available to women, and offer insights into the conditions that might support women’s well-being in the face of climate risk.