Women's Coping Mechanisms in Natural Disasters and Their Application to Disaster Management in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The prime objective of this study is to observe if women's coping mechanisms have been included in the current Disaster Management (DM) policy in effect in Sri Lanka. The author has arrived at the conclusion that there is minimal recognition of women's natural coping mechanisms in disasters within the nation's DM policy, along with many other interesting observations. To this end, the author conducted interviews with 124 women in the Hambantota and Batticaloa districts to learn the ways in which they have dealt with natural disaster situations during the period from 2000 to 2008. These two districts were chosen for random sampling for this study, as they are both indicative of natural disasters common to Sri Lanka and because they encompass resident populations representative of Sri Lanka's demography. The emphasis of this study is on women's coping mechanisms in particular due to their greater vulnerability in disasters and broadly to narrow down the targeted sample for this study. The author has utilized questionnaires and focus group discussions to ascertain responses from the sample groups. Given the nature of the study area and its gender implications, the author's approach to data evaluation and conclusions is qualitative. The theoretical approach to the study is based on the DM cycle including the three stages of pre-disaster preparedness, relief response and post-disaster recovery incorporated in Sri Lanka's DM policy. A schedule of questionnaires, focus group discussions and interviews were extensively conducted by the author to ascertain in depth the relationship between coping mechanisms and women before, during and after a variety of natural disaster occurrences. Expert knowledge and opinions were drawn from interviews conducted to arrive at policy recommendations. ...