ABSTRACT
Existing studies focusing on countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, South America and Southern Asia, mostly employ four recurring variables to document conditions of gender inequality that might lead to greater vulnerability in the face of climate change: division of labor, access to resources, access to decision-making and gender norms. Drawing from an extensive literature review and to a lesser extent primary research, this chapter aims at bridging this gap. Its objective is to draw attention to the long-lasting conditions of inequality affecting women in China, with regards to the above-mentioned variables, laying the basis for more context-specific studies on the ground that might unveil the complex web of interrelated socio-economic and natural factors affecting gender vulnerability to climate change. The chapter touches upon the degree of institutional awareness over the climate change and gender nexus, to understand what socio-cultural and political factors might hinder a stronger commitment on the topic on the part of Chinese policymakers.
