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Youth, Gender and Climate Resilience: Voices of Adolescent and Young Women in Southern Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Thomas Tanner

    (Centre for Development and Environment Policy, SOAS University of London, London WC1H 0XG, UK)

  • Lucy Mazingi

    (Independent Researcher, Harare, Zimbabwe)

  • Darlington Farai Muyambwa

    (Independent Researcher, Lusaka, Zambia)

Abstract

In contrast to the dominant ‘vulnerability narrative’ applied to studies of gender, age, and other intersectional characteristics in determining differentiated impacts of climate change, there is growing attention to the agency and voices of young people in the context of their development futures in a changing climate. This paper draws on Feminist Participatory Action Research undertaken by adolescent girls in Zambia and Zimbabwe. Centred on access to education, the findings prompt a reframing of youth agency and empowerment beyond instrumental concerns to integrate intrinsic factors that include self-fulfilment, recognition from others, status, and self-resilience. The research demonstrates how young people’s enquiry can help to surface the underlying structures of inequality shaping both their gendered experience of climate change and the response options available. Tackling structural issues may be beyond the conventional scope of climate change projects and policy, but gender and youth concerns require more than incremental changes. Rather, harnessing opportunities from low-carbon and climate-resilient futures requires understanding and tackling structural drivers of gender inequality that influence development opportunities for young people.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas Tanner & Lucy Mazingi & Darlington Farai Muyambwa, 2022. "Youth, Gender and Climate Resilience: Voices of Adolescent and Young Women in Southern Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-19, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:14:p:8797-:d:865666
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Thomas Tanner & Frances Seballos, 2012. "Action Research with Children: Lessons from Tackling Disasters and Climate Change," IDS Bulletin, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 43(3), pages 59-70, May.
    2. Ardyn Nordstrom & Christopher Cotton, 2020. "Impact of a Severe Drought on Education: More Schooling but Less Learning," Working Paper 1430, Economics Department, Queen's University.
    3. Stephen Woroniecki, 2019. "Enabling Environments? Examining Social Co-Benefits of Ecosystem-Based Adaptation to Climate Change in Sri Lanka," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-20, February.
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