3 - Vulnerability and resilience of female farmers in Oku, Cameroon, to Climate Change
Corresponding Author(s) : Kammila Naidoo
African Sociological Review,
Vol. 22 No. 1 (2018): African Sociological Review
Abstract
The experience of climate change is filtered through ones existing cultural, social and economic vulnerabilities. The rural poor in natural resource dependent communities in various African countries are likely to be negatively affected by climate change. In many cultures female farmers are considerably worse off than their male counterparts. This study makes use of a life history methodology in order to examine the particular nature of the vulnerability experienced by rural women in Oku in the Bamenda Highlands region of Cameroon. Gender is linked to vulnerability through a number of factors. These include access to and control over land, division of labour, marriage relationships, access to education and responsibility for dependents. Participants’ life histories show how vulnerability in the region develops over time and is both complex and non-linear. Nevertheless, the participants expressed how they used their agency, both individual and collective, in coping with vulnerability. They narrate different adaptation strategies employed including livelihood diversification, and changing farming practices. Understanding the role of gender in shaping women’s vulnerability is useful in informing the design and implementation of adaptation policies. This article makes an empirical contribution to the discussions on the need to engender climate change research, policy and actions.
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- Agarwal B., (2003). Gender and land rights revisited: exploring new prospects via the state, family and market. Journal of Agrarian Change, (3)184- 224.
- Alemayehu, A. and Bewket, W. (2017). Smallholder farmers’ coping and adaptation strategies to climate change and variability in the central highlands of Ethiopia. Local Environment 22(7), 825-839.
- Arora-Jonsson, S. (2011). Virtue and vulnerability: discourses on women, gender and climate change Global Environmental Change (21), 744-751.
- Asanga, C. (2002). Conservation and sustainable management of tropical moist forest ecosystems in Central Africa: Case study of an exemplary forest management in Central Africa -Community forest Management at the Kilum-Ijim Mountain forest region Cameroon. Forest Management Working Paper, FM/11, FAO, Rome.
- Babugura, A., Mtshali, N. and Mtshali, M., (2010). Gender and climate change: South Africa case study. Heinrich Böll Foundation Southern Africa.
- Blaikie, P., Cannon, T., Davis, I., and Wisner, B. (1994). At Risk: Natural Hazards, People’s Vulnerability and Disaster. London: Routledge.
- Bassett, T.J. and Fogelman, C. (2013). Déjá vu or something new? The adaptation concept in the climate change literature. Geoforum (48) 42-53.
- Bohle, H.G., Downing, T.E., and Watts, M.J. (1994). Climate Change and Social Vulnerability: the sociology and geography of food insecurity. Global ental Change (4) 37-48.
- Brody A., Demestriades J. & Esplen E., (2008). Gender and climate change: Mapping the linkages, a scoping study on knowledge and gaps. Bridge – Institute of Development Studies (IDS), UK.
- Bunce, A. and Ford, J. (2015). How is adaptation, resilience and vulnerability research engaging with gender? Environmental Research Letters 10, 1-11.
- Butler, J. and Gambetti, Z., (eds) (2013). Rethinking vulnerability and resistance: Feminism and Social Change. Women creating change. Workshop Report, Istanbule, Turkey.
- Butler, J.R.A., Suadnya, W., Puspadi, K., Sutaryono, Y., Wise, R.W., Skewes, T.D., Kirono, D., Bohensky, E.L., Handayani, T., Habidi, P., Kisman M., Suharto Hanartani,I. , Supartarningsih, S., Ripaldk, A., Fachry, A., Yanuartati, Y., Duggan, K and Ash, A.,(2014). Framing the application of adaptation pathways for rural livelihoods and global change in eastern Indonesian islands. Global Environmental Change 28: 368-382.
- Cornwall, A. (2016). Women’s empowerment: what works? Journal of International Development 28, 342-359.
- Crona, B., Wutich, A., Brewis, A. and Gartin, M. (2013). Perceptions of Climate Change: Linking local and global perceptions through a cultural knowledge approach, Springer, Science + Business Dordrecht.
- Cutter S.L., Boruff, B.J. and Shirley, W.L., (2003). Social Vulnerability to Environmental Hazards. Social Science Quarterly, 84 (2) 243 – 261.
- Dankelman, I., (2002). Climate change: Learning from gender analysis and women’s experiences of organising for sustainable development. Gender & Development, 10 (2), 21 -29
- Devereux, S. (1993). Goats before ploughs: dilemmas of household response sequencing during household food shortages, International Development Studies Bulletin, 24, 52-59.
- Djoudi, H. and Brockhaus, M. (2011). Is adaptation to climate change gender neutral Lessons from communities dependent on livestock and forests in northern Mali. International Forestry Review 13, 123-135.
- Dow, K., and Downing, T.E., (1995). Vulnerability research: Where things stand.Human Dimension Quarterly, 1, 3-5.
- Ekblom, A., (2012). Livelihood security, vulnerability and resilience: a historical analysis of Chibuene, Southern Mozambique. AMBIO 41: 479-489.
- Elak Council Baseline Report (2012) Report of baseline data for Elak Council. Oku Sub division, Elak Council Elinder, M. and Erixson, O., (2012). Gender, social norms, and survival in maritime disasters.
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United america 109(33): 13220-13224.
- UNFCCC (2016). Guidelines or other tools for integrating gender considerations into climate change related activities under the Convention. Technical paper by the secretariat. FCCC/TC/2016/2. UCCC (United Councils and Cities of Cameroon), (2014). Elak Oku. CVUC/UCCC, www.cvuc.cm/national/index.php/en/component/content/article/149-association/carte-administrative/nord-ouest/bui/344-elak-oku.
- United Nations, (2008). Emerging issues, trends and new approaches to issues affecting the situation of women or equality between women and men: “Gender perspectives on climate change”.
- Commission on the status of women. Interactive expert panel, 52nd Session, Issues paper. UN Women Watch (United Nations Women Watch), (2009). Women Gender Equality and Climate Change: Fact Sheet. The UN Internet Gateway on Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women.
- van Santen, J.C.M. (2014). ‘Do life histories surface as time goes by?: longitudinal anthropological research, time and feminist knowledge production. Women’s Studies International Forum 40, 22-29.
- Wise, RM.; Fazey, I.; Stafford Smith, M.; Park, SE; Eakin; Archer, ERM; van Garderen, A., and Campbel, B. (2014). Reconceptualising adaptation to climate change as part of pathways of change and response, Global Environmental Change 28, 325-336.
- Wong, S. (2016). Can climate finance contribute to gender equity in developing countries ?Journal of International Development 28, 428-444.
- World Bank, (2010). The social dimensions of adaptation to climatic change inussion Paper 12. Washington, DC: World Bank.
References
Agarwal B., (2003). Gender and land rights revisited: exploring new prospects via the state, family and market. Journal of Agrarian Change, (3)184- 224.
Alemayehu, A. and Bewket, W. (2017). Smallholder farmers’ coping and adaptation strategies to climate change and variability in the central highlands of Ethiopia. Local Environment 22(7), 825-839.
Arora-Jonsson, S. (2011). Virtue and vulnerability: discourses on women, gender and climate change Global Environmental Change (21), 744-751.
Asanga, C. (2002). Conservation and sustainable management of tropical moist forest ecosystems in Central Africa: Case study of an exemplary forest management in Central Africa -Community forest Management at the Kilum-Ijim Mountain forest region Cameroon. Forest Management Working Paper, FM/11, FAO, Rome.
Babugura, A., Mtshali, N. and Mtshali, M., (2010). Gender and climate change: South Africa case study. Heinrich Böll Foundation Southern Africa.
Blaikie, P., Cannon, T., Davis, I., and Wisner, B. (1994). At Risk: Natural Hazards, People’s Vulnerability and Disaster. London: Routledge.
Bassett, T.J. and Fogelman, C. (2013). Déjá vu or something new? The adaptation concept in the climate change literature. Geoforum (48) 42-53.
Bohle, H.G., Downing, T.E., and Watts, M.J. (1994). Climate Change and Social Vulnerability: the sociology and geography of food insecurity. Global ental Change (4) 37-48.
Brody A., Demestriades J. & Esplen E., (2008). Gender and climate change: Mapping the linkages, a scoping study on knowledge and gaps. Bridge – Institute of Development Studies (IDS), UK.
Bunce, A. and Ford, J. (2015). How is adaptation, resilience and vulnerability research engaging with gender? Environmental Research Letters 10, 1-11.
Butler, J. and Gambetti, Z., (eds) (2013). Rethinking vulnerability and resistance: Feminism and Social Change. Women creating change. Workshop Report, Istanbule, Turkey.
Butler, J.R.A., Suadnya, W., Puspadi, K., Sutaryono, Y., Wise, R.W., Skewes, T.D., Kirono, D., Bohensky, E.L., Handayani, T., Habidi, P., Kisman M., Suharto Hanartani,I. , Supartarningsih, S., Ripaldk, A., Fachry, A., Yanuartati, Y., Duggan, K and Ash, A.,(2014). Framing the application of adaptation pathways for rural livelihoods and global change in eastern Indonesian islands. Global Environmental Change 28: 368-382.
Cornwall, A. (2016). Women’s empowerment: what works? Journal of International Development 28, 342-359.
Crona, B., Wutich, A., Brewis, A. and Gartin, M. (2013). Perceptions of Climate Change: Linking local and global perceptions through a cultural knowledge approach, Springer, Science + Business Dordrecht.
Cutter S.L., Boruff, B.J. and Shirley, W.L., (2003). Social Vulnerability to Environmental Hazards. Social Science Quarterly, 84 (2) 243 – 261.
Dankelman, I., (2002). Climate change: Learning from gender analysis and women’s experiences of organising for sustainable development. Gender & Development, 10 (2), 21 -29
Devereux, S. (1993). Goats before ploughs: dilemmas of household response sequencing during household food shortages, International Development Studies Bulletin, 24, 52-59.
Djoudi, H. and Brockhaus, M. (2011). Is adaptation to climate change gender neutral Lessons from communities dependent on livestock and forests in northern Mali. International Forestry Review 13, 123-135.
Dow, K., and Downing, T.E., (1995). Vulnerability research: Where things stand.Human Dimension Quarterly, 1, 3-5.
Ekblom, A., (2012). Livelihood security, vulnerability and resilience: a historical analysis of Chibuene, Southern Mozambique. AMBIO 41: 479-489.
Elak Council Baseline Report (2012) Report of baseline data for Elak Council. Oku Sub division, Elak Council Elinder, M. and Erixson, O., (2012). Gender, social norms, and survival in maritime disasters.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United america 109(33): 13220-13224.
UNFCCC (2016). Guidelines or other tools for integrating gender considerations into climate change related activities under the Convention. Technical paper by the secretariat. FCCC/TC/2016/2. UCCC (United Councils and Cities of Cameroon), (2014). Elak Oku. CVUC/UCCC, www.cvuc.cm/national/index.php/en/component/content/article/149-association/carte-administrative/nord-ouest/bui/344-elak-oku.
United Nations, (2008). Emerging issues, trends and new approaches to issues affecting the situation of women or equality between women and men: “Gender perspectives on climate change”.
Commission on the status of women. Interactive expert panel, 52nd Session, Issues paper. UN Women Watch (United Nations Women Watch), (2009). Women Gender Equality and Climate Change: Fact Sheet. The UN Internet Gateway on Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women.
van Santen, J.C.M. (2014). ‘Do life histories surface as time goes by?: longitudinal anthropological research, time and feminist knowledge production. Women’s Studies International Forum 40, 22-29.
Wise, RM.; Fazey, I.; Stafford Smith, M.; Park, SE; Eakin; Archer, ERM; van Garderen, A., and Campbel, B. (2014). Reconceptualising adaptation to climate change as part of pathways of change and response, Global Environmental Change 28, 325-336.
Wong, S. (2016). Can climate finance contribute to gender equity in developing countries ?Journal of International Development 28, 428-444.
World Bank, (2010). The social dimensions of adaptation to climatic change inussion Paper 12. Washington, DC: World Bank.