The Empowerment and Social Involvement of Women through Community-based Disaster Risc Reduction Activities

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K21317
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Natural disaster / Disaster prevention science; Gender
• Research Institution: Hirosaki Gakuin University
• Principal Investigator: Ojima Miwa 弘前学院大学, 文学部, 准教授 (80535196)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 地域防災 / 女性 / 避難所運営訓練 / 社会参加 / エンパワーメント / 公民館

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to clarify the process by which women, through their participation in community-based disaster prevention activities, were empowered and became increasingly socially involved.
Evaluation of the learning outcomes achieved by local residents that had emerged from their participation in evacuation center management drills showed that women, despite having been requested to do so by local leaders, participated actively in preparatory meetings and had indicated that their participation had enhanced their self-esteem. These simulated evacuation center management exercises were subsequently shown to be effective instruments in enabling women to rise to the challenge of becoming leaders in community DRR activities.
Finally, these practical learning activities, held in collaboration with Kominkan and schools, contributed to the empowerment not only of women but of other community leaders as well, and helped foster more resilient and self-reliant local communities.

Free Research Field

社会教育学