Recent theories in developmental psychopathology tackle vulnerability from the standpoint of resilience. It is a significant approach in dealing with women’s disaster experiences: using women’s resilience as a factor. The World Risk Report 2015 named the Philippines as the third most disaster-prone country in the world. It is unfortunate that there is a dearth of studies statistically measuring women’s resilience in the midst of disaster despite a profusion of disaster experiences that the country goes through every year. A total of 205 women from flood-prone areas in the country, specifically from Barangays Bayog and Bambang in Los Baños, Laguna, participated in this study (N = 205). They answered a self- administered questionnaire entitled, “Women’s Resilience in Disaster Questionnaire.” Sixteen respondents also took part in focus group discussions. The data results were analyzed using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) which is a statistical tool that correlates several variables into simpler categories. The results generated six categories related to women’s disaster resilience: (1) Community engagement; (2) Accessing resources; (3) Authority over one’s self; (4) Reflecting and having faith; (5) Inner strength and determination; and (6) Hope and a sense of humor. While women are predominantly stereotyped as weak victims in the context of disasters, this study reaffirms that on the contrary, they are immense catalysts of change and assume critical leadership roles during emergency and disaster situation. Women and men experience disaster differently, for instance, women experience double burden in terms of community and household work when disaster strikes, gender- differentiated coping mechanisms and the capacity to absorb shocks, and women tend to reduce the amount they eat so their children and husbands have enough. Hence, a gender-blind stance towards disaster response adds to the disempowerment of women. This study hopes to shed light on women’s disaster experiences from the point of view of women’s resilience. It provides recommendations to improve people’s understanding and responses to disasters before, during, and after a disaster while also considering women’s welfare and women’s capacities.

Women’s Capacities In Adversities: Categorizing Women’s Disaster Resilience Through Exploratory Factor Analysis

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