Abstract
Abstract
Early warning systems and evacuation infrastructure are central to disaster risk reduction (DRR), yet their effectiveness is often evaluated using aggregate indicators that obscure inequalities in access, particularly for female-headed households (FHH). This study examined gendered barriers to DRR across seven cyclone-prone coastal districts of Bangladesh. We analyzed survey data from 279 households, 14 focus group discussions, and 21 key informant interviews to assess gendered disparities in warning receipt, evacuation behavior, shelter quality, and post-disaster aid access. Logistic regression and causal mediation analysis were employed to identify the predictors and mechanisms underlying gendered outcomes. FHH were 11.8 percentage points less likely to receive TC warnings than male-headed households. While evacuation rates did not differ significantly, FHH were markedly more likely to rate shelters as inadequate (40.0% vs. 26.5%). Most critically, FHH experienced a 12.4 percentage point deficit in post-disaster aid receipt despite comparable crop loss. Regression analysis confirmed that female headship independently reduced the odds of warning receipt and aid access. Mediation analysis revealed that shelter quality explained 43% of the gender-evacuation relationship, while institutional trust mediated 38% of the gender-aid gap. Qualitative findings identified four thematic mechanisms: information access barriers, shelter-related concerns, livelihood pressures, and institutional distrust. These findings underscore that FHH face a compounded
protection gap
across the disaster cycle: information marginalization, infrastructure exclusion, and institutional neglect. Addressing these barriers requires gender-transformative approaches, including women-led warning channels, enforceable shelter design standards prioritizing privacy and dignity, transparent aid governance, and institutional reforms that build women’s leadership in disaster management.