Question

What are some of the ways in which social class affects vulnerability to disaster across the disaster life cycle?

Answer 1

Ways in which social class affects vulnerability to disaster across the disaster life cycle.

There are many ways in which social class affects vulnerability to disaster across the disaster life cycle. There are many social problems and factors which contributed like if anyone is poor then it is not easy to withhold any disastrous situation,because due to poverty he lacks vital resources.These ways are mentioned below:

Poverty

Poor people are more prone towards disaster. Poor peoples tends to work in that areas where potential risk of hazards are more. Because of low qualification and other factors the poor people accept to live and work in these risky areas.

Religion

Religion makes people to be together. Religon have both positive and negative affects. Religion makes people to believe that in all the disaster human could not do any thing in this because it is decided by god.Some believe that this is good or bad omen. For example if there is any type of disaster in any village then the villagers think that this is because we didn't prey in temple or do anything wrong while praying in temple. Positive affects are like that in almost all religion there is big quality to handle any disaster. Like in Sikh or other religion whenever there is any disaster,these communities work there for humanity to normalize the people. Local religious bodies have a great impact in the times of disaster. They offered assistance to disaster affected people within the community. Like in Gurudwaras, people of Sikh community offer community kitchens.

Gender

In this world Gender affects Vulnerability to disaster a lot. In some countries there are girls and women more affected and are vulnerable to natural and man made disasters where gender discrimination persists. Not only percentage of women and girls die is higher also violence against them like rape, domestic abuse is also higher. Gender factor affects vulnerability also can be seen in case of children and men,because they have to work in risky conditions than that of girls and women.

Race and Ethnicity

Like gender race and ethnicity factor also impact on vulnerability of disaster like in some countries there is discrimination of people of a particular race and ethnicity can be seen. Like a recent example of COVID-19 impacted the African Americans more then the white in America. The death rate and infection rate in African Americans is high than that of white counterparts in United States of America.

Class and caste

Not everyone feels same kind of vulnerability in world. It is also right for different class and castes. For example in country India, Dalits (Low caste)/people works as fishermen and lives near the potential risky area like at seashore are more tends to natural disasters. Not even they affected at the time of disaster but due to their society and class remained affected for a long time after disaster.

Age

Older and children are most vulnerable to disaster than the adults because of immunity, physical factors and mental status. In low immunity the resistance power of body decrease and they didn't able to withstand the disease. In any natural and man made disaster also they are vulnerable because of low physical and mental strength.

Disability

Disable people are more vulnerable because of low physical as well as low socioeconomic status. Higher percentage of physically disabled people are indulge in poverty due to unemployment and scarcity of resources.

Health

Good health is a state of good mental and physical wellbeing. Unavailability of good health increase chances to be more prone to diseases, low class,unemployment, poverty at the large. Health is essential to decrease vulnerability from diseases. If you are health you will rise in at various socioeconomic platforms. Which ultimately decrease the vulnerability to disaster.

Language and literacy

Language is also a barrier in resistance towards disaster. Proper knowledge and understanding of language is very necessary. It is very difficult to face situation when you didn't understand language properly. For example in situations like Pandemic, Earthquake or any other disastrous situation if you can't read,understand and write then it is very difficult to save your and your families life. Because you can't know where to go,what government is guiding, what community is guiding. So to decrease language barrier literacy is very necessary. Literacy makes easy to understand the situations around, decrease social and socioeconomic difficulties so at the end it decrease vulnerability to disaster.