In the aftermath of hurricanes Maria and Irma, Puerto Rico has struggled to recover both physically and economically. Among the most impacted by the crises are Puerto Rican women, who already faced higher levels of poverty than men prior to the natural disasters alongside some of the highest rates of intimate partner violence in the world. The risk of domestic and gender-based violence is heightened after natural disasters, as women often are forced into precarious living situations. This danger is intensified by limited access to reproductive healthcare and menstrual products as well as additional burdens from caregiving duties. In this article, Anusha Ravi shares her research at the Women’s Initiative at the Center for American Progress. She analyzes the unique challenges women face during disaster recovery and the ways a gender perspective must be incorporated into relief policies. Photo credit: Getty/Mario Tama
