Embodying Resilience: Narrating gendered experiences and knowledge construction of disasters in Fiji

Abstract

Small island developing states are increasingly taking centre stage for conceptualising the extreme effects of global climate change, ushering notions of risk, disaster and vulnerability. This conception, however, stems not only from the physical onslaught of sea level rise, flooding, tropical cyclones, salt water intrusion, coral bleaching and droughts, but is further embedded in the social, historical and political realms of knowledge construction and hegemonic representation. Since the 1960’s indigenous scholars have begun the process of reclaiming indigenous knowledge, reappropriatingrepresentations and decolonising methodologies. Furthermore, within this realm of hegemonic representations, it is often women who are represented as the ‘vulnerable’ within the broader globaldiscourse of climate change; and while this may or may not be accurate in certain contexts, the generalisations of experience have been found to undermine female agency and misdirect disaster aid. This thesis explores the local narration of experience and knowledge construction of disasters in two iTaukei (indigenous Fijian) communities, Votua and Navala, both located in the Ba River catchment, Fiji, utilising Talanoa principles as a directing and constructing ideology from the onset and throughout. Thereby, this thesis seeks to develop a contextualised understanding of disaster experience as perceived through a gendered lens whilst elevating the local construction of disaster knowledge. The methodology consisted of semi-formal interviews, mapping sessions and journal entries from community members in Votua and Navala. Interviewees were chosen based upon a process of pre-built relationships and through consented participation. Interwoven within this narration are my own reflections, grounding the research within a space of entwining worldviews and understanding. Findings suggest that community members in Votua and Navala conceive disasters through a kaleidoscopic lens, drawing upon scientific, indigenous and cosmological worldviews in order to adapt and cope. Of particular importance for constructing resilient households and communities is the value of social networks, through long-established kinship structures, a shared value base and connection to vanua, a notion that speaks to the inseparability of people, land and sea in the Fijian socio-cultural context. Local narratives of post-disaster response and recovery in the aftermath of 2016 Tropical Cyclone Winston showed that women were not perceived as embodying a heightened vulnerability to disasters in comparison to men in either Votua or Navala. Rather it was found that perceptions of vulnerability were placed upon experience of those who physically struggled, such as people with disabilities, the elderly and those who had lost their homes. While gender roles and responsibilities underlay perceptions and gender relations, these were predominantly perceived as changing over time, either to a more shared sense of responsibilities or a shift from male responsibilities to female. This shift may lay the foundations for future changes in vulnerability and experiences towards disasters.