How has Katrina hit women harder than men?

[alarcojon]

I am asking this question in honest ignorance of the answer, and I seek guidance from this group.

We have all seen the coverage of how the poor, especially the black poor, have suffered needlessly and, in many cases, tragically, as a result of the failures of government at all levels, incuding of course His Chimperial Highness.

We also know that women form a disproportionate number of the poor,especially in minority communities where high rates of single motherhood are, unfortunately, common. So we should be seeing more images of women wading through toxic sludge, and less images of young black men "looting" stores while white people "find" food.



Any insight anybody has would be welcome.

[Hello_Kitty]

1. More single parents are women

So for them, definitely. Also, it may be harder for the displaced women to find well-paying jobs if they don't have education or training. Then again, they probably didn't have them to begin with.

But I don't see anyone in their situation having it easy.

[MountainLaurel]

2. Also for the elderly

Women are many times more likely to be living in poverty because of how the Social Security system neglects women who stayed at home raising children.

[cally]

3. We know that women were raped

but I've also wondered what percentage of the diaspora are women and children. I haven't seen any numbers.

[Triana]

4. Most everything hits women harder than men...

...because they're often further behind to begin with. Economically, socially, legally, politically. War, poverty, illness, disaster - all of it - hits women harder than men. Not to say it's easy on men either! But it certainly hits women harder.

[BlueIris]

5. I'm really concerned that your post doesn't acknowledge

that women are also more likely to be unemployed and make quite a bit less money than men in these here United States. This contributes to their economic difficulties, which are worsened in times of disaster and financial hardship.

Please peruse the list of links in our "What are you favorite feminist and feminist-friendly websites?" thread.

[alarcojon]

6. I'm sorry you feel that way

Of course women are more likely to be unemployed and underemployed, and make less money to the dollar than men. I thought we all shared those starting assumptions.

What I wrote was in the heat of the moment of Katrina, and looking back on it my question was why the media focused so much on race and so little on gender, when we know women have been affected greatly due to economic inequality and other factors. If I phrased it poorly, I apologize.

[BlueIris]

7. You phrased it poorly. Thanks for your apology.

If you haven't already, you might want to check out the group rules we all agree to follow before participating in the DU Feminist Forum.

Also, there's Google.com for this kind of thing. I'm still wondering why you chose to come here looking for information about inequality when there were other resources you could have checked first.

[alarcojon]

8. I have checked out other resources

I consider this forum a good source of information and insight along with many other sources.

I am well aware of the group rules, and also of the other sources you mention. I think I'll just leave it at that.