Cultural Dimensions and Vulnerability - 1 | 8. Cultural Dimensions and Vulnerability | Disaster Preparedness &Planning - Vol 5
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Sustainable Livelihoods Framework

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Teacher
Teacher

Today we'll discuss the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework. It emphasizes how individuals and groups access resources and the importance of assets in organizing livelihoods.

Student 1
Student 1

How do cultural factors fit into this framework?

Teacher
Teacher

Great question! Cultural factors significantly influence how communities manage their resources and make choices. This goes beyond economic necessity.

Student 2
Student 2

So, it's not just about money, but also traditions and social practices?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! Cultural dimensions shape individuals' identities and their responses to challenges. This is crucial for developing effective recovery strategies.

Student 3
Student 3

Are there models or theories that explain this dynamic?

Teacher
Teacher

Yes, authors like Bourdieu and Lim provide insights into these cultural dynamics, which we’ll discuss more.

Student 4
Student 4

Can you summarize what we’ve learned?

Teacher
Teacher

Certainly! We explored how cultural factors influence livelihoods in disaster contexts, and the importance of integrating cultural understanding into recovery efforts.

Cultural Capital

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Teacher
Teacher

Now, let’s delve into Bourdieu’s theory of cultural capital. What do you think cultural capital involves?

Student 1
Student 1

I believe it’s about the different types of capital we acquire through society.

Teacher
Teacher

Correct! Bourdieu speaks of three different types: inherited, objectified, and institutional capital.

Student 2
Student 2

Can you explain objectified capital?

Teacher
Teacher

Sure! Objectified capital refers to the cultural goods individuals can own, like art or literature, which can influence their position in society.

Student 3
Student 3

And how does this relate to disasters?

Teacher
Teacher

Cultural capital impacts how communities recover from disasters; those with richer cultural capitals may have better access to recovery resources.

Student 4
Student 4

Can you summarize this session?

Teacher
Teacher

Certainly! We explored Bourdieu’s cultural capital theory and its three forms, and how they relate to community resilience.

Cultural Interaction and Vulnerability

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Teacher
Teacher

Next, let’s examine cultural interaction. What components do you think shape a community's identity?

Student 1
Student 1

Religion and family structure seem important.

Teacher
Teacher

Correct! According to Lim’s model, aspects such as religion, ecology, and gender roles all contribute to identity, impacting vulnerability.

Student 2
Student 2

How do these affect recovery after a disaster?

Teacher
Teacher

They shape community responses and facilitate or hinder recovery efforts depending on their interactions.

Student 3
Student 3

Can you give examples of these interactions?

Teacher
Teacher

Certainly! For instance, a community with strong kinship ties may be more effective in organizing support after a disaster.

Student 4
Student 4

Quick summary, please!

Teacher
Teacher

We discussed how cultural components, such as family and religion, affect a community's identity and its recovery process.

Introduction & Overview

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Quick Overview

This section discusses how cultural factors influence vulnerability and access to resources in the context of disaster recovery.

Standard

The section elaborates on the significant relationship between culture, vulnerability, and development, emphasizing how cultural dimensions influence the livelihood choices of communities affected by disasters. The importance of integrating cultural perspectives into recovery processes is highlighted to enhance effectiveness and ensure the needs of affected communities are met.

Detailed

In this section, we explore the intricate relationship between cultural dimensions and vulnerability, particularly in the context of disaster recovery. The discussion begins with the sustainable livelihoods framework, developed in 1997, which posits that individuals and groups access resources as assets crucial for organizing their livelihoods. This framework underscores the importance of not only economic factors but also cultural elements that inform livelihood choices. Through a review of various literature, including the works of Bourdieu, Dovey, Leach, and Lim, we examine how cultural capital shapes community responses and resilience in the face of disasters. Lim’s model is used to analyze various components such as religion, ecology, family structure, and gender roles that contribute to identity formation. Additionally, the narrative addresses the failed consideration of cultural dimensions in existing post-disaster humanitarian efforts, leading to disadvantageous outcomes for affected communities. Ultimately, the section posits that understanding these cultural influences in recovery processes is essential for effective assistance and development outcomes.

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Understanding Vulnerability in Context

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There is also sustainable livelihoods framework which talks about the asset framework where it is a different model in 1997, which they have developed how the individuals or groups access the resources which are basically an assets to organize their livelihoods and how the capacities make them able to act engage and change the world. Apart from this, Tony Lloyd Jones and Carole Rakodi. Also propose that there is also the futures like how the infrastructure and development has an impact in those access to these assets and the vulnerability context.

Detailed Explanation

This chunk discusses frameworks that help understand how people manage their livelihoods. The sustainable livelihoods framework looks at how individuals access resources (assets) that help them organize their livelihoods. It emphasizes the importance of capacities that enable people to act effectively in their environment. Additionally, it notes that infrastructure and development play significant roles in determining how these resources can be accessed, which directly relates to vulnerability.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine a farmer in a rural area. If he has access to good quality soil (asset) and irrigation facilities (infrastructure), he can cultivate his land effectively. However, if the infrastructure is inadequate, like a broken irrigation system, his ability to access the resources he needs declines, making him more vulnerable to drought.

The Role of Cultural Factors

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But here, the thing is it is not just for the economic necessity where households or groups act upon. But it is with the cultural factors which people manage the results and make their livelihood choices to act upon.

Detailed Explanation

This chunk highlights that besides economic necessity, cultural factors are crucial in shaping how individuals and groups make decisions regarding their livelihoods. People do not act solely based on economic needs; their choices are also influenced by cultural practices, values, and social norms that guide their behavior and decision-making.

Examples & Analogies

Think about how different families might choose to spend their money. A family with strong cultural ties to education may prioritize funding for schooling over luxury items, even if they could afford both. Their cultural values dictate what they perceive as essential for their future.

Linking Culture to Vulnerability and Development

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So, this is where I started reviewing a variety of literature starting from Bourdieu’s cultural capital. Kim Dovey’s work on framing places, Neil Leach work and Regina Lim’s work. So, this is where I started revealing a lot of literature on what is culture and that is where I try to adopt certain literatures and made a framework in my research, in order to understand the role of culture, in the disaster development process.

Detailed Explanation

In this chunk, the author mentions significant works by theorists such as Bourdieu and Dovey, which focus on cultural capital—how cultural resources impact the lives of individuals and communities. By reviewing various literature, the author aims to create a framework for understanding how cultural dynamics interact with vulnerability and development, especially during disasters.

Examples & Analogies

Consider a community that has a rich cultural heritage of storytelling. After a disaster, this cultural practice can help maintain social cohesion and provide emotional support, facilitating recovery. Understanding this cultural aspect can be essential for development agencies to plan effective recovery strategies.

Defining Culture for Disaster Context

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Here, the culture is defined as the sum of total human experiences and accumulated indigenous knowledge within the space because, I am looking from the built environment perspective that communities rely on giving meanings to their lives and places delivered through which people habitually develop an approach to survive their everyday life, whether it is in a pre-disaster situation or a post disaster situation.

Detailed Explanation

This chunk defines culture as the collective human experiences and indigenous knowledge of a community. The built environment's perspective emphasizes that this culture gives meaning to people's lives and influences their survival strategies, both before and after disasters.

Examples & Analogies

For example, a coastal community may have traditional fishing techniques that have been passed down for generations. When disaster strikes, these techniques can be critical to quickly restoring their livelihoods, showcasing how deeply embedded cultural practices shape resilience.

Research Focus on Culture in Post-Disaster Recovery

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So, mainly my argument lies on how the cultural dimensions of the local communities are not effectively and sufficiently addressed in the current post-disaster for humanitarian and development process.

Detailed Explanation

The author argues that humanitarian and development processes often overlook the cultural dimensions of local communities in post-disaster recovery. This neglect can lead to ineffective recovery strategies that do not resonate with the affected populations.

Examples & Analogies

If a relief organization provides food and water without considering the food preferences and cultural practices of the community, it may not only fail to meet their needs but also undermine their dignity and social structures, delaying recovery.

Definitions & Key Concepts

Learn essential terms and foundational ideas that form the basis of the topic.

Key Concepts

  • Cultural Interaction: The interplay between various cultural factors that shape community identity.

  • Vulnerability: The increased susceptibility to harm or difficulty in disaster situations, influenced by cultural contexts.

  • Sustainable Framework: A holistic approach to understanding how communities access and utilize resources for their livelihoods.

  • Cultural Capital: The assets of knowledge, skills, and education that influence a person's social mobility and resilience.

Examples & Real-Life Applications

See how the concepts apply in real-world scenarios to understand their practical implications.

Examples

  • A fishing community utilizing traditional ecological knowledge to rebuild after a tsunami, showcasing cultural resilience.

  • The integration of local customs and practices in rebuilding efforts leading to faster recovery in affected areas.

Memory Aids

Use mnemonics, acronyms, or visual cues to help remember key information more easily.

🎵 Rhymes Time

  • Cultural factors as guides, help in recovery tides.

📖 Fascinating Stories

  • Imagine a village where traditions hold strong; after a disaster, these bonds help them belong.

🧠 Other Memory Gems

  • Remember C.U.R.E.: Culture, Unity, Resilience, Economy.

🎯 Super Acronyms

C.R.E.A.M.

  • Culture
  • Resources
  • Ethnicity
  • Access
  • Management.

Flash Cards

Review key concepts with flashcards.

Glossary of Terms

Review the Definitions for terms.

  • Term: Cultural Dimensionality

    Definition:

    Refers to the various cultural factors and contexts influencing human behavior and decisions.

  • Term: Sustainable Livelihoods Framework

    Definition:

    A model that examines people's access to resources and their strategies for achieving livelihood goals.

  • Term: Cultural Capital

    Definition:

    A concept that encompasses the non-economic resources that enable social mobility, such as education, skills, and cultural knowledge.

  • Term: Disaster Recovery

    Definition:

    The process of rebuilding and restoring communities after a disaster.

  • Term: Vulnerability Context

    Definition:

    The factors influencing a community's susceptibility to harm or difficulty in disaster situations.