How Climate Change Deepens Gender Inequality in India

Have you ever thought about how climate change could affect gender roles? In India, this issue is very real—and it shows how environmental changes can deepen existing gender inequalities.

Take the village of Denganmal in Maharashtra as a striking example. Here, water scarcity is so severe that men resort to polygamy—marrying several women known as ‘Water Wives’ or ‘Paani Bais’—to manage household water needs. But why does climate change lead to such extreme social adaptations?

Understanding the Intersection of Climate and Gender

Climate change impacts everyone, but not equally. Women, especially in rural areas, often bear the brunt of environmental stress due to traditional gender roles involving managing household water, food, and care.

The intersection of climate and gender reveals how environmental stressors drastically worsen gender inequalities, leading to unique hardships and coping strategies.

Gendered Impacts of Climate Change in India

Climate change in India brings more frequent droughts, floods, and extreme weather events that disproportionately affect women:

Domestic Responsibilities

Water Collection: Women and girls spend hours fetching water daily. Droughts force them to travel longer distances, reducing time for education and work, and increasing risks of violence.
Food Security: Women manage household food, often eating less during shortages to feed their families, risking malnutrition.
Fuel Gathering: Women collect firewood or other fuels; deforestation makes this harder, increasing health risks from smoke exposure.

Agricultural Dependence

Crop Failure: Unpredictable weather damages crops. Women farmers often lack access to advanced farming tech, lowering yields.
Economic Instability: Reduced productivity threatens household income, affecting health and education.
Loss of Livelihoods: Small-scale farmers and livestock keepers lose income, increasing poverty and vulnerability.

Health Risks

Physical Health: Heavy workloads cause chronic pain and fatigue. Food and water scarcity cause malnutrition and dehydration.
Mental Health: Stress from managing scarce resources and economic instability can lead to anxiety and depression, worsened by limited mental health access.
Reproductive Health: Pollution and stress increase pregnancy risks. Limited healthcare access leads to higher maternal and infant mortality.
Waterborne Diseases: Floods and droughts worsen water quality, increasing disease risk, especially for women and children.

Denganmal: Polygamy as a Climate Survival Strategy

Located about 185 kilometers from Mumbai, Denganmal faces extreme water scarcity during hot summers. Women walk up to 12 hours to fetch water from the nearest dam.

To cope, men practice polygamy—marrying multiple women called ‘Water Wives.’ These women, often widows or single mothers, undertake the exhausting daily task of fetching water, while the first wife manages the household.

Though illegal, this practice persists as a survival strategy, highlighting how climate change worsens gender inequality. Women bear increased physical and emotional burdens, and communities resort to extreme social adaptations.

Sustainable Solutions

Addressing these challenges requires:

Better Water Access: Developing reliable water sources near villages to ease women’s burdens.
Gender-Sensitive Policies: Crafting policies addressing rural women’s unique challenges.
Legal and Social Support: Enforcing women’s rights and supporting vulnerable groups.

Climate change and gender inequality intersect in complex ways. The story of Denganmal’s ‘Water Wives’ is a powerful reminder that environmental issues often worsen social inequalities. Targeted, gender-sensitive interventions are crucial for ensuring no woman sacrifices autonomy or well-being due to climate hardships.

A Call for Justice and Equity

Understanding and addressing climate-gender intersections is not only a policy challenge but a matter of justice. By lifting the burden from women like the ‘Water Wives,’ we can pave the way toward a more equitable and sustainable future.

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