Climate Disasters and Gender Inequality: How Women and Girls Are Disproportionately Affected
What’s Happening?
Man-made climate disasters disproportionately affect women and girls, increasing risks of gender-based violence and restricting access to reproductive healthcare. The need for abortion services remains urgent even in disaster situations, but clinic closures, travel disruptions, and medical supply shortages complicate care access.
Abortion Care and Support Resources:
→ Mountain Area Abortion Doula Collective (NC): Helping patients reschedule reproductive appointments in other parts of the state.
→ Carolina Abortion Access Fund: Providing grant assistance for those seeking abortions in North and South Carolina.
→ Mountain Access Brigade (TN): Offering abortion funds and advocacy.
→ Keepourclinics.org: Supporting independent clinics in need of rebuilding assistance
Man-made climate disasters affect abortion access by means of:
→ Clinic closures due to facility damage.
→ Travel disruptions such as road closures.
→ Shortages of medical supplies.
→ Overwhelmed healthcare systems.
→ Communication issues with providers.
→ Increased financial strain.
→ Displacement of individuals.
→ Extended waiting periods that may push patients past legal gestational limits.
HERE’S HOW YOU CAN TAKE ACTION:
→ Push for reproductive health services to be included in disaster preparedness plans.
→ Raise awareness about the increased risks of gender-based violence during disasters.
→ Support organizations addressing racial and socioeconomic inequalities in disaster recovery, as these factors can impact reproductive health access.
→ If you or someone you know is seeking an abortion or resources about abortions, visit @ineedanacom @abortionpil
Man-made climate disasters disproportionately impact women and girls by:
→ Increasing risks of gender-based violence.
→ Disrupting housing and support systems.
→ Limiting access to reproductive healthcare.
→ Creating structural and social barriers to aid.
→ Exacerbating pre-existing inequalities and economic challenges.
→ Causing long-term consequences such as physical injuries and mental health issues.
Organizations Supporting Communities Impacted by Hurricane Helene:
→ Voices of Florida: A Black- and queer-led reproductive rights nonprofit, serving meals and donating supplies to areas affected by Hurricane Helene.
→ TriPride (TN/VA): Moving donations from Pride events to hurricane relief efforts. Support their GoFundMe.
→ Rise (TN): An inclusive education nonprofit that has distributed 2,000+ menstrual hygiene products. Support via their GoFundMe.
→ The Diaper Bank of North Carolina: Collecting diapers, period products, bottles, and formula.
→ Firestorm Books (NC): Serving as an information hub and resource center.
→ Prism (TN): Gathering essentials like water and nonperishable food.
