POST DISASTER RECONSTRUCTION EXPERIENCES AND EXPECTATIONS OF WOMEN: A CASE OF NORTHERN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Natural disasters destruct the normal functioning of a particular community. The recovery and resettlement phases of the disaster are given much consideration by developmental agencies which cater the short term needs only. While the long-term developmental needs of victims in the re-constructional phase goes unnoticed.  Moreover, the existing studies have highlighted the vulnerability of women but ignored their potentials for sustainable development. This study incorporates the women’s experiences and expectations of the reconstruction phase of the disasters in the context of rural settings of the most deprived area of Gilgit-Baltistan Pakistan.  The phenomenological design has been used to study the lived experiences of women in the reconstruction and rehabilitation phase. The study was part of doctorate program (PhD Gender Studies) of the researcher. The study incorporates the experiences of participants who narrated the stories of their interaction with outsiders including government personals, community leaders, aid agencies and researchers which have provided broader horizons for the development of the community. Women got motivation and inspiration by interacting with female researchers. The employment, economic and educational opportunities for women have been improved after the disasters. Not only the victims, but the other women came out of the domestic arena and claimed their spaces in the public sphere and few of them started their independent setups. The study concludes that there should be no gender discrimination for skill development initiatives and women must be supported financially and technically to cash their existing skills. Like the education sector, the health department also needs government attention for improvement to ease communal life in harsh mountains.

Keywords: Gender, Disaster, Opportunities, Expectations, post-disaster long term reconstruction