The Gender Dimension of Disaster: A Case Study of Women Who Experienced The Earthquake in The City of Dı̇yarbakir, Turkey

Abstract

This study was planned to determine the social, socioeconomic and health consequences of the earthquake on women. The qualitative study was conducted with 14 women between October and November 2023. The study was completed with 5 nurses, 5 women displaced by the earthquake and 4 mothers living in Diyarbakır province and affected by the earthquake. Study data were collected using a semi-structured interview form. Interviews were evaluated by thematic analysis after transcription. Institutional and individual ethical consents were obtained for the study. The mean age of the women was 43 years, 13 of them were married, all of them were high school graduates or above, and 11 of them were employed in a job that generates income. The house of 71.4% of the participants was completely destroyed or damaged, 35.7% had family members who were injured/damaged, and 57.1% had lost a loved one due to the earthquake. In terms of domestic responsibilities, 96% of women stated that it was their duty to raise children, 78.6% stated that it was their duty to manage the household and 78.6% stated that it was their duty to care for family members. Women's housing problems, increased domestic roles, concerns about supporting their husbands and maintaining their economic income sources, and concerns about child care were among the most important problems. It was determined that after the earthquake, women increased their domestic responsibilities, had difficulties in child care and fell behind in their work life. Nurses who had to work after the earthquake also reported leaving their families behind and lack of support and the satisfaction they experienced in helping patients. As a result, women experienced an increase in their gender roles after the earthquake. This increase in women's responsibilities increases their vulnerability. Therefore, it is important to develop mechanisms to support and protect women in times of disaster.

Keywords

• disaster
• earthquake
• women
• gender
• nurse

Afetin Toplumsal Cinsiyet Boyutu: Türkiye'nin Diyarbakır Şehrinde Depremi Yaşayan Kadınlarla İlgili Bir Örnek Olay İncelemesi

Abstract

Bu çalışma, depremin kadınlar üzerindeki toplumsal, sosyoekonomik ve sağlık sonuçlarının etkilerini belirlemek amacıyla planlandı. Çalışma Ekim-Kasım 2023 tarihlerinde 14 kadın ile kalitatif tipte gerçekleştirildi. Diyarbakır ilinde yaşayan ve depremden etkilenen; 5 hemşire, 5 deprem nedeniyle yerinden edilmiş ve 4 anne olan kadın ile çalışma tamamlandı. Çalışma verileri yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme formu ile toplandı. Görüşmeler, deşifre sonrası tematik analiz ile değerlendirildi. Çalışma için kurumsal ve bireysel etik onamlar alındı. Kadınların yaş ortalaması 43 olup, 13’ü evli, tamamı lise ve üzeri mezun ve 11’i gelir getiren bir işte çalıştığı belirlendi. Katılımcıların %71,4’ünün evi tamamen yıkılmış ya da hasar görmüştü, %35,7’sinin ailesinden yaralanan/zarar görenler vardı ve %57,1’i sevdiği birini deprem nedeniyle kaybetmişti. Kadınlar ev içi sorumlulukları olarak, %96’sı çocukları yetiştirmenin, %78,6’sı ev yönetiminin ve %78,6’sı aile üyelerine bakım vermenin görevleri olduğunu belirtti. Kadınların barınma sorunları, ev içi rollerinin artması, eşe destek olma, ekonomik gelir kaynaklarını sürdürmesi kaygıları ve çocukların bakımı konusunda yaşadıkları endişeler en önemli görülen sorunlar arasındaydı. Deprem sonrası kadınların ev içi sorumluluklarını artırdığı, çocuk bakımında zorlandıkları ve iş yaşantısından geride kaldıkları belirlendi. Deprem sonrası çalışmak zorunda kalan hemşireler ailelerini geride bırakma ve destek olmamama durumlarını ve hastalara yardım etmede yaşadıkları tatmini de bildirdi. Sonuç olarak, deprem sonrası kadınlar toplumsal cinsiyet rollerinde artış yaşamışlardır. Kadınların sorumluluklarındaki bu artış kırılgan olma durumlarını artırmaktadır. Bu nedenle kadınları afet zamanlarında destek olacak ve koruyacak mekanizmalarının geliştirilmesi önemlidir.

Keywords

• afet
• deprem
• kadın
• toplumsal cinsiyet
• hemşire

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