Swimming and Gendered Vulnerabilities: Evidence from the Northern and Central Philippines

Men and women's vulnerability to disasters is different and often related, in part, to cultural norms that influence gendered behaviors and abilities. In this study we focus on gender differences in swimming abilities, which in the case of tsunamis have resulted in far greater female mortality rates. We present results on swimming ability by gender for 940 residents of coastal rural communities in the northern and central Philippines. We also examine cross-generational transmission of swimming abilities to shed light on future vulnerability. Results reveal men are far more likely than women to swim and, importantly, parents who can swim are more likely to have children who can swim. In this way, differences in swimming ability among today's adults may perpetuate vulnerabilities within future generations.