Women are disproportionately harmed by extreme heat, largely because of unequal power dynamics, gender norms, and unequal access to resources, as reflected in the Global Gender Gap Index that places India at 18th rank from the bottom.
Perhaps we should be alarmed by the numbers — India is home to more than one-in-six women in the world — and extreme heat is now their reality.
A recent report by the ADB (Rising Above the Heat) highlights the unequal impact of extreme heat on women in Asia and the Pacific
Women living in informal settlements in cities (also at the margins and in slums) face multiple challenges due to rising temperatures.
Their homes could turn into heat chambers since the material used in informal, urban neighbourhoods, such as tin, asbestos, and plastic, trap heat.
Women also toil in poorly ventilated kitchens, experiencing scorching temperatures while cooking
Due to lower productivity stemming from heat stress, women work considerably longer hours to complete their share of unpaid work at home
More than two-third of women’s productivity loss from heat strain occurs in the domain of unpaid labour in India.
The loss also reflects opportunity costs associated with heat stress — that women could have earned extra income, acquired skills, or rested enough.
Urban female informal labourers face harsh weather, whether working in marketplaces, streets, construction sites, landfills, or even their employers’ homes.
Due to their occupational settings, these casual-wage workers — street vendors, paid domestic helpers, construction workers, and sanitation workers — are vulnerable to climatic extremes, reports the International Labour Organization (‘Work in a Changing Climate’).
The situation worsens with energy poverty — living without cooling facilities such as ventilated spaces, fans, air conditioners, or coolers.
The situation in rural India is equally severe
Since 56.8% of rural Indian families cook on biomass (NFHS-5), acknowledging the extent of this public health hazard is essential.
Women’s days also involve longer working hours under heat stress.
The incidence of heat-related diseases is also on the rise with increasing temperature.
Heat stress puts the body under a great deal of strain, making it harder for it to regulate its temperature, leading to several illnesses, including heat cramps, severe heat stroke, and hyperthermia.
Women are at greater risk because of their physiological makeup — their body fat percentage and water content levels affect heat tolerance and hydration, while hormonal changes associated with menstrual cycles and pregnancy affect body temperature regulation.
Women have a dual burden from heat-related health issues since they are more susceptible to its effects and also shoulder majority of the care-giving responsibility that follows.
Additionally, heat stress has a pronounced impact on maternal and child health
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