Amid the climate crisis, a new study published in the Guardian, has revealed a distressing correlation between rising temperatures and an alarming surge in domestic violence against women in India, China, the US, and Europe, where deadly heatwaves have been wreaking havoc.
Amid the climate crisis, a new study published in the Guardian, has revealed a distressing correlation between rising temperatures and an alarming surge in domestic violence against women in India, China, the US, and Europe, where deadly heatwaves have been wreaking havoc.
The study, recently published in JAMA Psychiatry, discovered that a mere 1-degree Celsius increase in average annual temperature led to a significant rise of over 6.3% in incidents of physical and sexual domestic violence across three South Asian countries.
Conducted over the period of 2010 to 2018, the research tracked the experiences of 194,871 girls and women aged 15-49 in India, Pakistan, and Nepal, focusing on reported instances of emotional, physical, and sexual violence. The data was then compared with temperature fluctuations during the same timeframe. Notably, India, already grappling with high reported rates of intimate partner violence, experienced the largest increase in abuse. With each 1-degree Celsius rise in temperature, there was an 8% surge in physical violence and a 7.3% rise in sexual violence.
Heatwaves and extreme temperatures are gripping countries worldwide, with devastating consequences. India recently reported scorching temperatures of up to 45°C accompanied by numerous heat-related deaths. Mediterranean Europe emerged from an unprecedented April heatwave, Texas suffered a deadly heatwave for three consecutive weeks, and China experienced record-breaking temperatures exceeding 40°C, prompting authorities to urge people to stay indoors.
Michelle Bell, a co-author of the study and professor of environmental health at Yale University, highlighted the various physiological and sociological pathways through which higher temperatures could contribute to an increased risk of violence. Extreme heat can lead to crop failures, infrastructure damage, economic losses, confinement indoors, and hindered work capabilities, all of which impose tremendous stress on families and escalate violence rates. The research revealed that while violence increased across all income groups due to heat, the largest spikes were observed in lower-income and rural households.
Indian activist Suniti Gargi, who previously worked with Uttah Pradesh’s commission for women, firmly believes that the climate crisis exacerbates these heatwaves and links them to the rising incidence of domestic violence she has observed.
“I’ve been seeing unusually high temperatures becoming more common,” she said. “They cause tremendous economic stress in families. If a man can migrate to another state to get work, it can help keep the home fires burning but when he cannot for whatever reason, his wife is at the receiving end of his anger and feelings of uselessness.”
According to testimonies shared through Suniti Gargi, one woman revealed the distressing cycle of violence that unfolds during extreme heat in her household. When her husband cannot work in the scorching fields due to the May and June heat, their only source of income is lost. Helplessness and frustration build up, leading to outbursts of anger directed towards his wife and children. While he regrets his actions afterward, the cycle repeats when he continues to face the inability to earn income.
The study conducted by Fudan University in Shanghai contributes to a growing body of research illustrating how rising temperatures contribute to a more violent world, particularly affecting women. Previous studies from Madrid showed a 40% increase in the risk of intimate partner femicide during heatwaves, while in Kenya, women who experienced severe weather events, including heatwaves, reported a 60% higher likelihood of experiencing intimate partner violence. Global data compilations have also revealed a 2.3% increase in interpersonal violence and a 13.2% increase in intergroup conflicts as temperatures rise.
Apart from social and economic factors, extreme heat affects the human body in various ways. Previous research has shown that acute heat exposure can trigger increased adrenaline production, potentially leading to higher aggression and activating brain areas associated with emotion regulation. Heatwaves also worsen the effects of mental illnesses such as anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Source: Guardian