'She'll be right': the place of gendered emotions in disasters. Issue 6 (23rd May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rushton, Ashleigh; Phibbs, Suzanne; Kenney, Christine; Anderson, Cheryl
• Is Part Of: Gender, place and culture. Volume 29:Issue 6(2022)
• Page Start: 793
• Page End: 815
• Publication Date: 2022-05-23
• Subjects: Gender -- disasters -- emotion -- geographies -- masculinity; Human geography -- Periodicals; Feminism -- Periodicals; Géographie féministe -- Périodiques; 305.305
• DOI: 10.1080/0966369X.2021.1892595
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0966-369X

Abstract

Abstract: This paper draws on the geographies of emotion and masculinities literature to explore rural men's experiences of the 2016 Kaikōura/Waiau earthquake in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 men affected by the earthquake. Geographies of emotion enable reflection on the social context and individual circumstances of those impacted by natural hazard events, thereby contributing to understanding the way local constructions of gender influence people's experiences of disasters. The paper highlights how emotions are present regardless of how antipodean notions of hegemonic masculinity, reflecting stoicism and reserve, shape disaster responses. The research identified that two years on from the earthquake, men were still emotional when talking about the earthquake, yet attempted to silence their emotional distress. Through an analysis of emotion, men's hidden vulnerabilities and capacities, which are linked to sets of understandings about masculinities in place, are captured. This research illustrates the value of undertaking analysis of men's emotions in disaster spaces.