While the climate crisis is disproportionately created by men, it is women who are disproportionately affected. Research shows that men on average buy more high emissions products, eat more emissions intensive foods such as meat, vote for political parties with weaker climate policy policies, and actively avoid green life choices which they dismiss as academic. Climate change is therefore now being seen as a form of slow violence to women.
Dr. Cara Daggett coined the term petro masculinity, to describe the combination of climate denial and misogyny, in which fossil fuels become an expression of identity. Masculinity is about a sense of invulnerability and the capacity to control. Until we recognize that our dependence on nature and our human vulnerability, will not act to address the climate crisis. If traditional masculinity is behind man’s environmental destructiveness, we have to encourage men to loosen their connection to that form of masculinity and embrace empathy, caring, compassion and concern for nature as part of what it means to be an ethical human being.
This is not the men vs women gender debate that has been muddied by some toxic feminists. It is the rational approach to realize that both genders must work together or we shall perish together. Despite so much misrepresentation by various interests, the climate crisis is neither a fad nor an empty threat, it is one of the big threats to humanity right up there with a nuclear war and uncontrolled AI.
The good thing is that firstly, men are often the innovators, entrepreneurs and early adopters of new technology that is helping fight the climate crisis, mainly driven by masculine ambition and competitiveness. Men are also considered the gatekeepers of gender equality, they have more impact when they speak out for women, than when it is only women doing so. Men are therefore asked to speak out and engage their peers in changing our relationships with nature.
Secondly, women are more willing to adapt behavior to mitigate climate change through daily decisions on transport, diet & energy use. They have a stronger sense of duty & social responsibility to act. They are also more selective in buying ethical or sustainable products, also known as political consumerism. Each gender has a critical role to play in creating sustainable mobility.
Naomi Mwaura June Nyandwaki Aaliyah Tahir Iqbal Annika Berlin Jemimah Muli Monicah Thuku-Muema Mercy E. Anne Njeri Alison Pridmore Olivia Lamenya Msingo John Tom Courtright Warren O. Anazi Zote Piper Doreen Orishaba Mutoro Sifuma Moses Nderitu Allan Kweli Branice Mayienga Dr. Titus Mutwiri, PhD Dr. Susan Mambo, PhD Coach Betty Mwaura Cyprine Odada Ben Pullen
GENDER & SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY
