The Gendered Impact of Climate Change: A Socio-Economic Study of Women in the Sundarbans

Abstract

Water, which is life to all, is a threat to few. Climate change and rising water salinity in India's environmentally delicate Sundarbans region pose a threat to women's lives and agency, especially for widows and households headed by women. This sociological study critically examines how women's social safety, hygiene, and reproductive health are disproportionately impacted by climate-induced changes, particularly the increased salt of drinking and agricultural water. The study demonstrates that limited access to water and rising saline levels are associated with poor maternal health, menstrual hygiene issues, and increased vulnerability to waterborne infections. It does this by using mainly secondary data sources, such as the National Family Health Surveys (NFHS) and published reports. The analysis, which is grounded in an ecofeminist framework, also makes the hypothesis that patriarchal dominance and household disputes are made worse by environmental shortages and changing patterns of livelihood. Finally, the results show how women's bodies and labour become sites of resistance and exploitation, urging a change from a resilience-based strategy to a climate justice paradigm.