This paper considers the impact of gendered norms on decision-making for wildfire preparation and response at the household level. Focusing on Australia, it provides a theoretical thematic analysis of data acquired in 107 interviews with residents of nine different localities. It builds on existing research on gender and disaster, as well as on decision-making and wildfires, and analyses the narratives that centre on 'split' households plans (where a male partner plans to stay and a female partner plans to evacuate) and disagreements within heterosexual couples as to an appropriate wildfire safety plan. The study finds that gender inequality and differences in gendered expectations are likely to create difficult conditions for negotiation between members of a heterosexual couple when there is disagreement over a plan and that this may contribute to risky decision-making practices and outcomes. The paper reiterates, therefore, the importance of taking into account the social construction of gender in wildfire research and policy.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	bushfire, gender, masculinity, stay and defend, wildfire
Research Division:	Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services
Research Group:	Human resources and industrial relations
Research Field:	Employment equity and diversity
Objective Division:	Environmental Policy, Climate Change and Natural Hazards
Objective Group:	Natural hazards
Objective Field:	Climatological hazards (e.g. extreme temperatures, drought and wildfires)
UTAS Author:	Fairbrother, P (Professor Peter Fairbrother)
ID Code:	145157
Year Published:	2018
Web of Science® Times Cited:	10
Deposited By:	Management
Deposited On:	2021-07-05
Last Modified:	2021-09-29
Downloads:	0