Description
Book SynopsisThe 2010 Haiti and Chili earthquakes, the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and the 2011 Fukushima earthquake and tsunami in Japan are but a few examples of recent catastrophic events that continue to reveal how social structure and roles produce extensive human suffering and differential impacts on individuals and communities. These events bring social vulnerability to the forefront in considering how disasters unfold, clearly revealing that disasters are not created from the physical event alone. Equally important, peopleeven those considered vulnerablerespond in innovative and resilient ways that unveil the strength of human ingenuity and spirit. It is not a foregone conclusion that a hazard event, even a large one, will result in catastrophic loss.
This updated second edition of Social Vulnerability to Disasters focuses on the social construction of disasters, demonstrating how the characteristics of an event are not the only reason that tragedies unf
Table of Contents
Framing Social Vulnerability. Understanding Social Vulnerability. Theoretical Framing of Worldviews, Values, and Structural Dimensions of Disasters. The Intrinsic Link of Vulnerability to Sustainable Development. Socially Vulnerable Groups & Building Capacity. Class. Race and Ethnicity. Gender. Age. Disability. Health. Language and Literacy. Households and Families. Violence. Religion, Faith, and Faith-Based Organizations. Animals. Community Resilience. The Nature of Human Communities. Measuring and Conveying Social Vulnerability. Social Change and Empowerment. New Ideas for Practitioners.
