Browsing by Author "Mashiyi, Vuyiseka Vicky"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Women's Rights in a Changing Climate: An Intersectional Analysis of Climate Change and Gender Inequality in Nigeria.
    (University of the Western Cape, 2025) Mashiyi, Vuyiseka Vicky
    Climate change disproportionately impacts women, particularly in Nigeria where poverty and deep-rooted gender inequalities intersect. This dissertation explores how climate change affects women's socio-economic rights, through an intersectional feminist and human rights lens. This study examines how social identities like gender, class, and ethnicity shape women’s vulnerabilities and coping mechanisms to climate shocks. And how existing gender gaps exacerbate these challenges. Women's limited access to resources, information, and decision- making power hinders their ability to adapt to climate-induced crises such as droughts, floods, and rising sea levels, leading to increased food insecurity, health risks, and gender-based violence. Employing a human rights framework, this research investigates how climate change exacerbates existing gender inequalities, disproportionately affecting women. Through case studies and policy analysis, the study will explore the multifaceted impacts on women's food security, employment, poverty, and health, including reproductive rights. This thesis advocates for the critical inclusion of women in climate change decision-making processes, arguing that their underrepresentation creates a 'value gap' hindering effective solutions. By examining the intersection of climate change and gender inequality in Nigeria, this research investigates the disproportionate impacts on women, including increased vulnerability to food insecurity, health risks, and gender-based violence. It further explores the link between climate-induced displacement and the rise in gender-based violence. Ultimately, this research aims to contribute to building a more just and equitable future for women facing the consequences of climate change.