Lessons Learned on Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief: A Gendered Analysis of U.S. Crisis Communication

Abstract

To advance the U.S. women, peace and security strategy that aims to empower women and build stability around the world, the U.S. should reevaluate its crisis communication style during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. This paper reviews lessons learned with a gendered analysis from interpersonal crisis communication and humanitarian efforts in Sri Lanka, and the use of mass media messages and visuals from floods in Nigeria and the 2023 Turkey/Syria earthquake and ends with recommendations for a different style of communication. Changing communication styles has the potential to reach more women and resonate better with them as a target audience so they may be less disproportionately affected by conflict and disaster. Further, it could give them agency, usher resilience, and open possibilities for changes in gender norms during phases of transition, thus bolstering the U.S. strategy and helping to improve security and stability around the globe.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 12, 2023
Accession Number
AD1206187

Entities

People

  • Sheryll Klinkel

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Engineered Resilient Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Disaster Management
  • Disasters
  • Earthquakes
  • Humanitarian Assistance
  • Lessons Learned
  • Mass Media
  • Media
  • Resilience
  • Security
  • Sri Lanka
  • Transitions

Readers

  • Gender and Food Studies
  • Military and Counterinsurgency Studies.
  • Strategic Security Studies