The authors apply the Women, Peace, and Security framework to a fictional scenario of a Category 5 hurricane disaster response along the U.S.-Mexico border to demonstrate how disasters are experienced inequitably by different demographic groups. Through this case study, the authors reveal the existing knowledge base, associated data gaps, and process gaps and structural assumptions that limit effective disaster response.

Applying Women, Peace, and Security Considerations to a Cross-Border Disaster Response

A Mexico Case Study

Irina A. Chindea, Joslyn Fleming, Samantha Perez Davila, Nathan Thompson

ResearchPublished Nov 21, 2024

The authors apply the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) framework to a fictional scenario of a Category 5 hurricane disaster response along the U.S.-Mexico border to demonstrate how disasters are experienced inequitably by different demographic groups. Through this case study, they reveal the existing knowledge base, data gaps that limit understanding of how natural disasters affect different societal groups, and process gaps or structural assumptions that limit data collection and effective communication during disaster response.

In this case study, a Category 5 hurricane has blocked escape or evacuation routes in low lying areas and inflicts major damage to buildings and infrastructure in the Northeastern part of the state of Tamaulipas, requiring massive evacuations and a joint disaster-relief response from the U.S. and Mexican armed forces. The authors focus on disaster response activities conducted on the Mexican side of the border. They aim to outline how WPS and intersectionality principles can be incorporated into primary disaster relief joint-operations conducted by U.S. and Mexican armed forces and to encourage armed forces responders on both sides of the border to think about and incorporate such considerations in their response planning efforts.

Key Findings

Gender-related findings related to disaster response address a variety of issues, from violence to inclusivity

  • Mainstreaming gender perspectives into disaster response is recognized as a best practice because disaster impacts are felt differently by different groups.
  • Women have been historically underrepresented in disaster-response efforts, but their inclusion can lead to more-equitable responses and increased societal resilience.
  • Gender-differentiated impacts are present across the emergency management cycle.
  • During disasters, women and girls face a heightened risk of gender-based violence.
  • Women in lower income brackets experience higher mortality rates during a disaster.
  • Intersectionality between gender and other factors is an important consideration when conducting a gender analysis for disaster response.
  • Gender analyses for disaster response benefit from integrating SADDD into disaster-response planning.

Findings specific to this case study focus on inclusivity and data gaps

  • Mexico's National Institute of Statistics and Geography provides an independent source of SADDD for tracking gender inequality metrics, but data gaps exist.
  • Natural disasters induce fear, which can lead to disinformation or lack of trust in the information available to vulnerable populations.
  • Most of the population of the state of Tamaulipas lives in urban areas. A disaster response in the state would involve complex urban search and rescue operations.
  • Women are underrepresented in military occupational specialties that conduct operations in complex disaster scenarios.
  • The complexity of coordinating between institutions at different levels might lead to variations in approach to disaster response and inclusion of gender perspectives, which could hinder unity of effort in a disaster response.

Recommendations

  • Systematically collect and integrate SADDD into disaster-response planning.
  • Identify information gaps and develop strategic communication plans before a disaster occurs.
  • Focus vulnerability assessments and analyses of the urban environment on how gender intersects with other demographic factors—such as age, education levels, language or dialect spoken—to affect access to resources and disaster relief services for the most-vulnerable groups of the population.
  • Provide training that advances a deeper understanding of how underlying biases and gender disparities can affect how care is administered.
  • Conduct analyses of U.S. and Mexican workforce military occupational specialties to identify the specialties in which women are underrepresented and the reasons for those imbalances.
  • Codify the inclusion of gender perspectives into disaster response through policy and standard operating procedures, including the development and signing of a formal bilateral Mexico-U.S. Civil Assistance Plan.

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Document Details

  • Copyright: RAND Corporation
  • Availability: Available
  • Year: 2024
  • Print Format: Paperback
  • Paperback Pages: 76
  • Paperback Price: $23.00
  • Paperback ISBN/EAN: 1-9774-1219-X
  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.7249/RRA1944-2
  • Document Number: RR-A1944-2

Citation

RAND Style Manual

Chindea, Irina A., Joslyn Fleming, Samantha Perez Davila, and Nathan Thompson, Applying Women, Peace, and Security Considerations to a Cross-Border Disaster Response: A Mexico Case Study, RAND Corporation, RR-A1944-2, 2024. As of April 30, 2025: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA1944-2.html

Chicago Manual of Style

Chindea, Irina A., Joslyn Fleming, Samantha Perez Davila, and Nathan Thompson, Applying Women, Peace, and Security Considerations to a Cross-Border Disaster Response: A Mexico Case Study. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2024. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA1944-2.html. Also available in print form.
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This research was sponsored by the U.S. Northern Command and conducted within the International Security and Defense Policy Program of the RAND National Security Research Division.

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