Vulnerability and vulnerable groups from an intersectionality perspective

Kuran, Christian Henrik Alexander; Morsut, Claudia; Kruke, Bjørn Ivar; Krüger, Marco; Segnestam, Lisa; Orru, Kati; Nævestad, Tor Olav; Airola, Merja; Keränen, Jaana; Gabel, Friedrich; Hansson, Sten; Torpan, Sten

doi:10.1016/j.ijdrr.2020.101826

Cited by 160 publications

(111 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…With regard to theoretical implications, our study provides a holistic analytical framework for the identification of determinants on multiple levels and the intersection of social identity dimensions in a given environment. Thus, socially produced inequalities and power imbalances that contribute to a lack of health behavior are not neglected or ignored [ 33 , 62 ], but rather identified from a solution-focused instead of a problem-focused perspective. We sought to portray the power gradients between different social groups in a shared social system and the disproportionate barriers some individuals experience.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Embracing challenging complexity: exploring handwashing behavior from a combined socioecological and intersectional perspective in Sierra Leone

Lanfer

Reifegerste

2021

BMC Public Health

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Background Handwashing with soap is a cost-effective, efficient health behavior to prevent various diseases. Despite its immense health benefits, the lowest prevalence of handwashing is found in low-income countries. Here, its practice is not only determined by individual behavior, but also heavily shaped by deprivations in the social and structural ecology. Moreover, handwashing barriers are not equally experienced as overlapping social identities (e.g., age and gender) intersect and create inequities between members of different social groups. To embrace the complexities of handwashing beyond individual-level behavior and singular social identities, a combined socioecological and intersectional perspective is employed. This multi-level approach with regards to intersecting privileges and disadvantages serves as a basis to promote this highly important health behavior. Methods This study used a qualitative, theory-based approach and combined data from two samples: experts in health promotion (n = 22) and local citizens stratified by gender and rural/urban location (n = 56). Data was collected in face-to-face interviews in Sierra Leone between November 2018 and January 2019 and analyzed using thematic analysis and typology of the qualitative data. Results The conceptualization of multi-level determinants of handwashing within a socioecological model showed the high relevance of inhibiting social and structural factors for handwashing practice. By establishing seven distinguishing social identity dimensions, data demonstrates that individuals within the same social setting yet with distinct social identities experience strikingly differing degrees of power and privileges to enact handwashing. While a local leader is influential and may also change structural-level determinants, a young, rural wife experiences multiple social and structural constraints to perform handwashing with soap, even if she has high handwashing intentions. Conclusion This study provides a holistic analytical framework for the identification of determinants on multiple levels and accumulating intersections of socially produced inequalities for handwashing and is applicable to other health topics. As the exploration of handwashing was approached from a solution-focused instead of a problem-focused perspective, the analysis can guide multi-level intervention approaches (e.g., using low-cost, participatory activities at the community level to make use of the available social capital).

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Embracing challenging complexity: exploring handwashing behavior from a combined socioecological and intersectional perspective in Sierra Leone

Lanfer

Reifegerste

2021

BMC Public Health

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“…The types of harmful information described above illuminate the intricate links between information disordervarious types of false and/or harmful informationand social vulnerability in the context of a health crisis. Theoretically, social vulnerability to crises may be triggered by (a combination of) three kinds of factors: situational, individual, and social-structural (Hilhorst and Bankoff, 2004;Kuran et al, 2020;Hansson et al, 2020). Accordingly, information-related pandemic vulnerability should be understood as a dynamic characteristic rather than an essential attribute of a particular individual or a group.…”

Section: Discussion: Addressing Information-related Pandemic Vulnerabmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 information disorder: six types of harmful information during the pandemic in Europe

Hansson

Orru

Torpan

et al. 2021

Journal of Risk Research

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The outbreak of a novel coronavirus disease COVID-19 propelled the creation, transmission, and consumption of false informationunverified claims, misleading statements, false rumours, conspiracy theories, and so onall around the world. When various official or unofficial sources issue erroneous, misleading or contradicting information during a crisis, people who are exposed to this may behave in ways that cause harm to the health and well-being of themselves or others, e.g., by not taking appropriate risk reducing measures or blaming or harassing vulnerable groups. To work towards a typology of informational content that may increase people's vulnerability in the context of the coronavirus pandemic, we explored 98 instances of potentially harmful information that spread in six European countries-France, Italy, Norway, Finland, Lithuania, and Estoniabetween March and May 2020. We suggest that during the pandemic, exposure to harmful information may have made people more vulnerable in six ways: (1) by discouraging appropriate protective actions against catching/spreading the virus, (2) by promoting the use of false (or harmful) remedies against the virus, (3) by misrepresenting the transmission mechanisms of the virus, (4) by downplaying the risks related to the pandemic, (5) by tricking people into buying fake protection against the virus or into revealing their confidential information, and (6) by victimising the alleged spreaders of the virus by harassment/hate speech. The proposed typology can be used to guide the development of risk communication plans to address each of these information-related vulnerabilities.

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“… There is growing focus on using intersectional vulnerability analysis to understand individual needs and risks in a crisis, moving beyond a homogenous group categorisation (Kuran et al, 2020). Broader research highlights how in everyday lifeand in crisessocial inequalities and discrimination along gender, age, disability, sexuality, ethnicity and religious lines result in overlapping, compounding disadvantages, shaping each person's individual experience (Carter, 2021).…”

Section: Vulnerability and Resiliencementioning

confidence: 99%

Social Inequalities and Famine and Severe Food Insecurity Risk

Carter¹,

Kelly²

2021

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This rapid review summarises the evidence on the ways in which social inequalities and discrimination affect the risk of famine or severe food insecurity. Looking at the risk at the national and sub-national level, gender and other horizontal inequities can affect a society’s risk of violent conflict and therefore food insecurity, while fragile livelihoods associated with ethnic marginalisation can impact regional food security. At the individual and household level, there is a lack of disaggregated data on people’s social characteristics and famines. There is a broader literature on the impact of systemic discrimination (based on gender, age, disability, sexuality, and ethnic identity) on individuals’ and households’ livelihoods and assets, thereby increasing their vulnerability to food insecurity. A key finding from the literature is the gender gap, with women more at risk of being food insecure than men. Also, some ethnic groups are highly vulnerable particularly in conflict-related famines; starvation is used as a warfare tactic in political and ethnic conflicts. There is evidence of how social inequalities heighten individuals’ risks during food crises and famines, including through exposure to protection threats, while limiting their access to essential services and humanitarian assistance. A broad range of measures seeks to address the multi-dimensional ways in which social inequalities affect vulnerability and resilience to food insecurity.

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Vulnerability and vulnerable groups from an intersectionality perspective

Cited by 160 publications

References 14 publications

Embracing challenging complexity: exploring handwashing behavior from a combined socioecological and intersectional perspective in Sierra Leone

Embracing challenging complexity: exploring handwashing behavior from a combined socioecological and intersectional perspective in Sierra Leone

COVID-19 information disorder: six types of harmful information during the pandemic in Europe

Social Inequalities and Famine and Severe Food Insecurity Risk

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