Women in disaster mitigation: Learn from 2018 Pandeglang tsunami, Indonesia

This research aimed to determine the women’s experiences during disasters, especially at the mitigation stage. It also investigates the role of women in disaster mitigation that is seen in four aspects, which are knowledge about the disaster, disaster emergency response plans, early warning systems, and how to deploy their resources. Women have a potential role because of their capability in family resources management. Putting women in vulnerable groups makes them considered less helpless in dealing with disaster conditions. The study was descriptive qualitative, using in-depth interviews. The participants were victims of the Pandeglang tsunami in 2018, selected by snowball sampling. Fifteen women were interviewed in their native language using semi-structured questions. The study found that women were less involved in disaster mitigation. Women just received orders from men (husbands). They were not accustomed to speaking up and giving their opinions and then they be a person who is passive and submissive. These findings are key in formulating policies involving women in disaster risk management, especially in disaster mitigation. These findings imply practitioners to improve the local deliberation system which gives women more access to participate; give women additional training on managing household (economic) resources, first aids, and early warning disaster system; and enhance awareness of disasters.