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FMR 64 Climate crisis and local communities 29

June 2020 www.fmreview.org/issue64

in order to adapt, share knowledge and In Myanmar, one woman told us that
build resilience. At a gathering in Bangkok when her husband migrated to Malaysia for
in December 2019, Indigenous Women better employment opportunities, she had
leaders, policymakers and civil society to take on management of all the household
representatives from across the region met to activities such as agricultural production as
exchange knowledge and build connections well as managing the remittances sent by her
in response to this growing crisis. 2 husband. However, despite what might be
seen as gains in gender equality, the status
Gendered impacts of women continues to be lower than that
Pre-existing inequalities are exacerbated by of men. Female-headed households remain
climate change, resulting in differentiated in communities which do not recognise
vulnerabilities. To understand these impacts women as having the same status as men
at a community level, research teams and consequently suffer as a result.
examined gender roles within the household Many seasonal workers leave their
and labour roles linked to livelihoods. villages with their entire families during the
There was a range of experiences among lean periods when there is no agricultural
the communities, particularly relating work. This has become so commonplace that
to women’s literacy and participation. In people view it as a livelihood adaptation to
communities in Laos, women’s low level of climate change. However, in discussions
literacy limited their ability to participate in during the conference, participants
decision-making forums. One respondent expressed concern over how migration
said, “…only men go to meetings and is increasing the vulnerability of already
women stay at home. So, women do not marginalised people and increasing risks
know about climate change or adaptation.” of gender-based violence for women.
However, in Cambodia, women held Women interviewed in Laos also pointed
more power within the households: “In to the differential impact of displacement
Krang Teh village, women are always for women. They observed how women do
active in seeking advice from the local not have information on safe migration and
authority to deal with the drought situation are forced to migrate without passports and
and [one woman] also encouraged her work permits, and are unsafe travelling
husband to purchase a pumping machine alone; that women lack independence to
to rescue her rice and other crops.” travel for work; that disasters have destroyed
Although the whole family contributes to their homes; and that they lack income
a household’s livelihoods, there are distinct and jobs in the community. And in the
gender roles in the division of labour. Within event of natural disasters such as cyclones,
agriculture, women are involved in more typhoons or floods, women’s responsibility
of the frontline work of planting, weeding for children and elderly people may
and cultivating home gardens, which hinder their own escape, access to shelter
means they are the first to experience the or access to health care, as was seen when
consequences of unpredictable and extreme Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar in 2008.
weather patterns. As they seek new ways to
manage these resources they increasingly A question of power over land
experience ‘time poverty’ because of the Indigenous Peoples hold ancestral rights
additional roles they also fulfil within the to their lands but these rights are not
household related to care-giving and cooking. always recognised or protected, even when
Men take on more physically demanding appropriate legislation exists. In Cambodia,
jobs – whether on their land, in the forest, a national policy provides strong direction
or as hired labour – and are usually the towards respect for and recognition of
first to leave in search of employment when Indigenous Peoples’ rights and their role
resources are scarce as they do not have the in the sustainable management of natural
same household obligations as women. resources. However, threats from private