Social Disparity in Climate Change Perception and Related Coping Strategies: The Case of Haitian Farmers.

Abstract

Abstract Climate change perception among farmers is a subject of considerable research since sufficient knowledge is essential to making effective adaptation decisions. However, some social disparities such as class and gender inequalities might undermine this perception and shape the adaptation decisions in developing countries. Thus, this study examined the social disparities in climate change perception and related coping strategies between male and female farmers by comparing two farming areas in Haiti. We further explored the differences in the climate change perception and adaptation strategies of male and female farmers in these areas. We collected data through fieldwork and a household survey of 670 farmers, of whom 75% were men. Consistent with the majority of existing sociology of science research, the results revealed that the poor and female farmers had a stronger climate change perception than did the rich and male farmers, respectively. The survey population generally adopted similar strategies to cope with climate change. However, the poor were more likely to rely on off-farm strategies, whereas the female farmers were more likely to use on-farm versus off-farm strategies. Although the female farmers had less education, land, and resources, in contrast to the male farmers, they exhibited greater overall awareness of climate change and engagement in finding new alternatives to cope with this threat. Our findings suggest that the empowerment of women can be an effective strategy for improving agricultural resilience in response to climate change in a developing country such as Haiti.