Climate change is not equal to all: The contribution of feminist studies to climate change research

Marta Rivera-Ferre
Metode Science Studies Journal

The impacts of climate change on people are not homogeneous, with some social groups being
more heavily affected than others. This is due to the existence of a differential and contextual
vulnerability that most often is related to inequality. In this sense, gender is a key axis of social
inequality that intersects with other systems of power and marginalization to cause unequal
experiences of climate change vulnerability and adaptive capacity. Thus, a gender analysis in
climate change research examines structures and relationships of power. In this article, I provide
some examples of differential impacts of climate change and how feminist studies make visible
the underlying causes of vulnerability as well as the agency of marginalised actors to propose
alternatives.