Social disasters: Earthquakes, reconstruction and gender equality

Abstract

On September 19th, thirty-two years after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Mexico City, a similar phenomenon reminded all Mexicans how natural events can upset our everyday lives. That day, as in 1985, many of those who died were women. This article discusses why this history repeats itself and how gender and inequities (economic, social and political) have influenced the construction of the notion of social disaster.