Framing Global South Vulnerability in Climate Policy Discourse

• In Event: Gender and Climate

Abstract

We examine the impact of gendered discourses that often arise concerning climate change in the Global South. Women are often portrayed as “particularly vulnerable” – in text and in images – to the consequences of climate change. Yet, while such portrayals have become pervasive in social media, mainstream news, and governmental reports, the actual impact of these gender-specific narratives has been under-explored. How does the portrayal of gendered victimhood influence the political salience of climate change among citizens in the Global South? Drawing on survey experiments conducted in Côte d'Ivoire, we present preliminary pilot results that test whether the effectiveness of climate change frames depend on whether those likely to be affected are portrayed in messages are men or women and whether they are depicted as victims or agents of change. By varying these dimensions, we aim to assess the effectiveness of communication strategies conventionally adopted by both activists and policymakers. We also specifically examine whether the impact of such strategies come at the cost of reinforcing gender-regressive stereotypes. This study thus contributes to research on climate change communication and policymaking across the Global South.

Authors

• Alyssa Heinze, University of California, Berkeley

• Leonardo R. Arriola, University of California, Berkeley