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Vol.2 (2025) Iss. 1 / 2
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Gendered Vulnerabilities and Capacities in Disaster Response and Recovery: A Case Study of the 2015 Nepal Earthquake

Ruiqi Chen1,*   

1 Department of International Relations and Diplomacy, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
* Correspondence: Ruiqi Chen, E-mail: 1366534204@qq.com
 
J. Int. Eco. Glo. Gov., 2025, 2(2), 22-37; https://doi.org/10.12414/jiegg.250450
Received : 14 Dec 2024 / Revised : 21 Feb 2025 / Accepted : 25 Feb 2025 / Published : 25 Mar 2025
© The Author(s). Published by MOSP. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license.
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Abstract
 
Nothing except for disasters can be nearer to death, nothing except for disasters can reveal the vulnerabilities and capacities of people. In the 2015 Nepal earthquake, disaster acted as a mirror by reflecting how gender dynamics shaped women's experiences during the earthquake, and how gendered aftermath operations restructured Nepalese society. Based on case studies, this paper aims to propose a gendered perspective in disaster risk management, by clarifying women's sufferings and effectiveness in immediate disaster response and the longer-term recovery process. Situated at the encounter of socio-cultural norms, economic inequalities, and natural disasters effects, this article finds that, women emerged as key drivers in disaster response and recovery to foster resilience, instead of purely suffering and waiting for rescue as portrayed in previous disaster narratives. Women actively engaged in rescue operations, provided care and support to affected communities, and took leadership roles in rebuilding efforts. Their participation not only contributed to the swift recovery of their communities but also catalyzed a shift in traditional gender roles, challenging long-standing patriarchal norms. However, this article also finds that, without systematic institutional support, women's achievements will be marginalized in the long time. The findings suggest that a gender-sensitive approach to disaster management can enhance the effectiveness of recovery efforts, ensuring that women's roles as leaders and agents of change are fully acknowledged and supported in future disaster scenarios.
 
Keywords: Gendered Vulnerabilities, Nepal Earthquake, Disaster Response, Women's Resilience
 
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Funding

    None.

Conflicts of Interest:

    The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to report regarding the present study.

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© The Author(s). Published by MOSP. 
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license.

Chen, R. Gendered Vulnerabilities and Capacities in Disaster Response and Recovery: A Case Study of the 2015 Nepal Earthquake. Journal of International Economy and Global Governance 2025, 2 (2), 22-37. https://doi.org/10.12414/jiegg.250450.

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