When the Earth Thirsts, Women Bear the Heaviest Burden: Drought and Gender Inequality in Southern Ethiopia

The ochre landscapes of Konso, a UNESCO World Heritage site in southern Ethiopia renowned for its ancient terraced farming, whisper tales of resilience. Yet, a new, harsh narrative is unfolding, one where the increasing frequency and severity of drought, a palpable manifestation of climate change, are not only parching the land but also eroding the hard-won ground towards gender equality and women’s rights. The testimonies gathered from health officials and community members paint a stark picture of how environmental stress amplifies existing patriarchal structures, pushing women further into vulnerability.

For women in Konso, life is deeply intertwined with fertility. Societal expectations mandate early marriage and immediate childbearing. In a community where education levels remain low, infertility is met with severe social stigma, often leading to divorce and profound mental health challenges. The pressure to bear children is relentless, with women expected to continue childbearing until menopause. This deeply ingrained cultural norm is now dangerously exacerbated by the impacts of drought.

The changing climate has brought about prolonged periods of water scarcity and food insecurity. With agriculture being the primary livelihood, successive failed rains decimate harvests, pushing families to the brink. It is often the women who bear the brunt of this hardship. Traditionally, fetching water is an exclusively a female responsibility. As water sources dry up, women are forced to trek for increasingly longer distances, often spending up to four hours a day in search of this essential resource. This arduous task not only consumes their time and energy, hindering their participation in education or income-generating activities but also increases their vulnerability to harassment and potential violence during these long journeys. Consequently, as resources dwindle, girls are often pulled out of school to assist their mothers in the relentless pursuit of water, further limiting their future opportunities and perpetuating a cycle of disadvantage.

How drought erodes women’s autonomy

The economic strain caused by drought also impacts women’s reproductive autonomy. While men traditionally hold the decision-making power regarding family planning, the precarious economic situation can further entrench this imbalance. Even when women desire to use contraception to space births or limit family size, their husbands’ concerns about maintaining agricultural labor or cultural beliefs against family planning often prevail. Some women resort to using contraception secretly, highlighting their lack of agency and the potential for conflict and even violence if discovered.

Moreover, the desperation caused by drought triggers migration patterns that disproportionately affect women. As men migrate to relatively more fertile areas in search of work and sustenance, women are often left behind to care for children and the elderly with dwindling resources. This separation not only places immense pressure on women as sole caregivers but also exposes them to increased vulnerability and the risk of abandonment if their husbands form new relationships elsewhere.

The unseen health and safety crisis for women

The health sector, already strained, faces additional challenges due to the climate crisis. A recent decision to charge for cesarean sections at the referral hospital, a significant sum in a drought-stricken community, further discourages women from seeking essential maternal healthcare, potentially increasing maternal mortality. Simultaneously, access to family planning services, which are crucial for women’s reproductive health and autonomy, often takes a backseat during emergency responses to drought.

Perhaps most tragically, the interview data reveals a complex interplay between climate change, cultural norms, and reproductive health outcomes like abortion. While abortion is largely unacceptable in the community, unintended pregnancies, particularly among unmarried young women, occur. In the absence of comprehensive sexual education and access to safe abortion services, desperate measures are taken, often involving traditional methods or unsafe procedures, leading to complications and even fatalities. The deeply rooted cultural and religious beliefs against premarital sex, coupled with the lack of support systems, create a perilous situation for young women facing unwanted pregnancies, a situation likely exacerbated by the social and economic stresses induced by drought.

The insights from Konso serve as a poignant reminder that climate change is not just an environmental crisis; it is a profound threat to social and gender justice. In southern Ethiopia, the parched earth is not only cracking under the strain of drought but is also widening the existing fault lines of gender inequality. Addressing this complex challenge requires integrated solutions that not only focus on climate adaptation and mitigation but also prioritize women’s empowerment, access to education and healthcare, and a fundamental shift in patriarchal norms. Only then can the women of Konso, and women in similar drought-prone regions, truly secure their rights and build resilient futures in the face of a changing climate.

NB: the information is obtained from ongoing qualitative fieldwork in Konso