Climate Change Induced Migration: A Gendered Conceptual Framework

Naziha Sultana; Jheelum Sarkar; Mieke Meurs

doi:10.33182/md.v3i2.3177

Authors

Naziha Sultana American University https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8615-1770
Jheelum Sarkar American University https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7106-0498
Professor Mieke Meurs American University https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1327-4206

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33182/md.v3i2.3177

Keywords:

Climate change, migration, gender, welfare, decision-making

Abstract

An emerging body of research explores the relationship between climate change and migration. Much of this literature has been gender-blind, but where gender has been considered, the literature suggests that migration responses have differed between men and women. Existing theoretical approaches to migration do not provide a conceptual framework for understanding these differences. In this paper, we ask how existing conceptual frameworks explaining migration might be combined and extended to specifically incorporated gendered climate impacts and responses, and we propose such an extended conceptual framework. Specifically, this paper does three things. First, it critically reviews existing theoretical frameworks on migration through a gender lens. Bringing insights from feminist economics and related empirical research to bear on existing frameworks explaining migration, we identify five pathways through which gender differences can influence climate-induced household decision-making about migration. Building on this, we propose a gender-aware conceptual framework to explain the gendered decision-making processes behind climate change-induced migration.

Author Biographies

Naziha Sultana, American University

Naziha Sultana is a PhD Candidate in Economics at American University. She conducts research on gender's interaction with employment, unpaid work and migration in low-income countries. Her previous roles include Gender and Economics Specialist at the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), where she conducted research on gender, economic empowerment, and livelihoods, and Program Coordinator at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) where she did policy advocacy on labor migration issues. Naziha has an MA in Economics and Gender from Tufts University, and a BA in Business from University of Dhaka.

Jheelum Sarkar, American University

Jheelum Sarkar is a PhD scholar in Economics at the College of Arts and Science (CAS) of American University, located in Washington, DC, United States. Her research focuses on the intersection between climate change, household welfare and gender dynamics with special emphasis on less developed countries. Her specialized academic journey began at Centre for International Trade and Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) of New Delhi where she completed her M.Phil. in International Trade and Development and her M.A. in Economics with specialization in World Economy. Her M.Phil. dissertation examines the causal impact of extreme climate events on household wellbeing in mountain and coastal hotspots of India. She also holds a B.Sc. in Economics from Lady Brabourne College, University of Calcutta, India.

Professor Mieke Meurs, American University

Mieke Meurs is Professor of Economics and co-director of the Program for Gender Analysis in Economics at American University. Her areas of research include household behavior, firm organization, and local government in low- and middle-income countries. Recent publications include “Elder Care and Paid Work: Gender Differences in the Relationship Between Unpaid Elder Care Work and Employment in Bulgaria” in Journal of European Social Policy, “Improving Assessments of Gender Bargaining Power: A Case Study from Bangladesh,” in Feminist Economics, and “Gender Regime and Women’s Employment in Kazakhstan” Comparative Economic Studies. Professor Meurs holds a Ph.d. from University of Massachusetts, Amherst and a B.S. in Political Science from University of Wisconsin-Madison.