The Development of Disaster Women’s Studies and the Emergence of Diversity Science in Japan

This presentation reviews the development of Disaster Women’s Studies and initiatives for promoting diversity in Japan. Disaster Women’s Studies is an academic field that analyzes disaster experiences from the perspectives of sex and gender, with the aim of elucidating issues embedded in disaster response, recovery, and disaster-prevention policies. Whereas conventional disaster research has primarily focused on natural hazards and infrastructure, Disaster Women’s Studies pays close attention to how inequalities rooted in everyday life and social structures become visible and intensified under disaster conditions. In particular, it examines the challenges faced by women and individuals in diverse social positions during evacuation, access to support, and post-disaster recovery processes, thereby promoting respect for diversity and social inclusion.

The emergence of this field can be traced to the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011. In the aftermath of the disaster, it became evident that the needs of women, older adults, children, and other groups were insufficiently reflected in evacuation shelter management and support systems. In response, Disaster Women’s Studies was proposed as a new interdisciplinary perspective integrating gender studies, sociology, and disaster research. Emphasizing the perspectives of those directly affected, scholars have sought to theorize and systematize knowledge derived from practice. Today, universities and research institutions actively engage in research and education on gender and disaster, providing a theoretical foundation for more equitable and inclusive disaster prevention and recovery policies.

Against this backdrop, Saitama University will establish, in April 2026, the first master’s program in Japan to bear the title “Diversity Science.” The program will be housed within the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences and aims to develop an interdisciplinary framework for research and education that connects the social sciences with disaster science, including perspectives from the earth sciences.

Diversity Science is an academic field that scientifically examines how forms of diversity—such as gender, age, disability, and cultural background—shape societies and organizations, and seeks to apply these insights to practical problem solving. Rather than focusing on single attributes, it emphasizes contexts in which multiple differences and inequalities intersect (intersectionality). Through an ongoing dialogue between theory and practice, the program aims to cultivate professionals capable of contributing to the realization of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).