Feminization of Responsibility in Community Recovery: Rethinking Disaster Justice through the Lens of Care

Abstract

In the Philippines women are increasingly recognized for their crucial roles in disaster recovery. While not against participation per se, this article troubles assumptions tied to women’s participation, which are based on constructions of women’s altruism and care responsibilities. Drawing from a qualitative case study in post-Yolanda Tacloban, it contends that instrumentalizing women’s care-based practices in disasters may inadvertently worsen gender inequalities. To achieve gender justice in recovery, the article advocates addressing the confinement of care to women and emphasizes integrating an ethics of care into disaster justice frameworks to combat pervasive injustices that contribute to gendered vulnerabilities during disasters.

KEYWORDS: DISASTER JUSTICE • ETHICS OF CARE • FEMINIZATION OF RESPONSIBILITY • DISASTER RECOVERY • SUPER TYPHOON YOLANDA