Purpose

This note looks at the concept of gender and how it relates to men in disasters. It also highlights men’s roles in gender equality in disasters.

Overview

• Gender is often misunderstood as focusing only on  “women,” neglecting sex and gender as factors in the lives of boys and men in disaster contexts. Sex and gender shape men’s lives before, during and after disasters. While gender relations typically empower men as decision-makers with more control than women over key resources, gender identities and gender norms can also increase their vulnerability. Gender shapes men’s interactions with men, as well as women, during crises, and differently in different contexts.
• Gender-sensitive case studies indicate that gender norms can increase risk to boys and men in disasters.
• Gender is seen as “shorthand” for inequality or vulnerability in disasters – but this cannot be assumed for men or for women.

Usage: Guidance for project implementation, Training

Audiences: Volunteers, Gender and diversity practitioners

Reference: Gender and Disaster Network. (October 2009). Women, gender and disaster: Men & masculinities. Gender Note #3. Pp. 1-4. Available from:http://mensresourcesinternational.org/documents/GDN_GenderNote3.pdf. [Accessed: 19^th September 2015].