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Are Women More Vulnerable to Flooding Than Men in an Aging Japanese Society?

Author

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  • Juan Fan

    (Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Sophia University, Tokyo 102-8554, Japan)

  • Guangwei Huang

    (Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Sophia University, Tokyo 102-8554, Japan)

Abstract

It is a well-accepted notion that women are more vulnerable to natural disasters than men, especially in developing countries. However, in developed countries, how women’s empowerment by economic and social development has reduced the gender gap in vulnerability remains insufficiently answered. As Japan passed its golden age, moving into an aging society, a study on how the gender difference in flood vulnerability has evolved can contribute to a better understanding of the types and causes of vulnerability, leading to better flood risk management in a new social context. Following this thinking, the present study conducted a longitudinal analysis using representative flooding cases in Japan over a period of forty years. It found that the women’s fatality rate increased with age much faster than men’s in the 1980s but reversed in a recent major flood disaster. It also revealed that most flood disaster victims were elderly in recent years. These findings suggest that the flood vulnerability at present is more driven by age-related physical ability decline, much less relevant to gender. Based on the results, it proposed a new framework for assessing flood vulnerability in an aging society. Such outcomes can help with the better formulation of flood management policies and probing into solutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Juan Fan & Guangwei Huang, 2023. "Are Women More Vulnerable to Flooding Than Men in an Aging Japanese Society?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-11, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:2:p:1299-:d:1031746
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. P. C. D. Milly & R. T. Wetherald & K. A. Dunne & T. L. Delworth, 2002. "Increasing risk of great floods in a changing climate," Nature, Nature, vol. 415(6871), pages 514-517, January.
    3. Jersey Liang & Joan M. Bennett & Benjamin A. Shaw & Ana R. Quiñones & Wen Ye & Xiao Xu & Mary Beth Ofstedal, 2008. "Gender Differences in Functional Status in Middle and Older Age: Are There Any Age Variations?," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 63(5), pages 282-292.
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    1. Ismallianto Isia & Tony Hadibarata & Muhammad Noor Hazwan Jusoh & Rajib Kumar Bhattacharjya & Noor Fifinatasha Shahedan & Norma Latif Fitriyani & Muhammad Syafrudin, 2023. "Identifying Factors to Develop and Validate Social Vulnerability to Floods in Malaysia: A Systematic Review Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-21, August.

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