Climate-induced migrations in Mesoamerica with a gender perspective

Abstract

The objective of this article is to analyze climate migration from Mesoamerica, integrating systemic factors of poverty, pandemic, environmental disasters, survival dilemma, insecurity, and violence within a gender perspective. Climate disasters have increased systemic risks and generated cascading processes due to weak governmental policies of prevention, mitigation and adaptation. In addition, U.S. anti-migrant policies, border militarization, and organized crime have increased regional violence, forcing poor people to migrate within caravans. During these journeys, women through their support have achieved greater equity, justice and empowerment in highly adverse conditions. These learnings have generated recognition and more inclusive cultural norms that were demanded even when the migrants were repatriated to their countries, where they have promoted a care economy. They were able to adapt to climate disasters and participate in local politics, where they have promoted sustainable productive practices that have improved the economy and equity in their society. They are overcoming extreme poverty and violent-discriminatory patriarchal patterns by improving their family economy and protecting the community from increasingly more severe climate impacts.

Keywords

• climate-induced migration (cim), systemic risks with cascading processes, mesoamerica, militarized borders, care economy