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The toll that extreme heat takes on women
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Context
Unequal Impact of Extreme Heat on Women:
- Urban Challenges: Women in informal settlements face higher heat exposure due to poor housing materials and inadequate ventilation.
- Time Poverty: Heat stress causes productivity loss, adding 90 minutes of extra care work per day for women in India.
- Occupational Vulnerability: Female informal laborers in urban areas are exposed to harsh weather conditions in various work settings.
Health and Physiological Impacts:
- Heat-Related Diseases: Women are at greater risk of heat stress due to physiological factors affecting heat tolerance and body temperature regulation.
- Maternal and Child Health: Extreme heat increases the risk of preterm delivery, miscarriage, and stillbirths, exacerbating India's high maternal mortality rates.
- Care Burden: Women bear a dual burden of being more susceptible to heat-related illnesses and shouldering the majority of care-giving responsibilities.
Rural Women's Experiences:
- Biomass Cooking:8% of rural Indian families cook with biomass, exposing women to additional heat and health hazards.
- Agricultural Impact: Heat waves affect crop yields, directly impacting poor rural women's food security and livelihoods.
- Gender Norms: Restrictive norms on mobility and clothing may force women to stay indoors or wear heat-unfriendly attire.
UPSC Mains Questions:
Q. Analyze the intersectionality of gender inequality, climate change, and socio-economic factors in the context of extreme heat's impact on women in India. Suggest policy measures to address these challenges.
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