Keywords:
gender
environment
waste management
sustainable development

  • Abstract

    This literature review critically examines the intersection of women’s empowerment, environmental sustainability, and waste management, exploring how women’s roles in the waste sector are both a source of vulnerability and a potential avenue for ground breaking transformation. Women, particularly in marginalized communities, often face heightened risks due to environmental degradation, including exposure to harmful waste and inadequate waste management systems, which exacerbates their socio economic and health burdens. The review highlights the link between women and the environment, drawing attention to how their roles in waste management, often unrecognized and undervalued, contribute significantly to environmental sustainability. Drawing on global examples, it illustrates how women’s participation in waste management initiatives—through cooperatives, self-help groups, and grassroots environmental movements—has improved their financial stability, social status, and access to basic services like education and health insurance. For instance, the case of women waste-pickers in India demonstrates how collective action, through organizations like the Kagad Kach Patra Kashtakari Panchayat has led to legal recognition, better working conditions, and improved livelihoods. However, the review also underscores persistent barriers faced by women, including gender-based discrimination, stigmatization, and the undervaluation of their labor. Despite these challenges, the review argues that integrating gender-responsive policies and recognizing women as key stakeholders in waste management and environmental policy-making is crucial for fostering sustainable development. It concludes by emphasizing that the full empowerment of women, particularly in the context of waste management, is imperative for achieving broader environmental sustainability and social equity, positioning women as vital force of change in addressing global environmental challenges.

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Arya, A. S., & Shukla, R. (2025). Connecting women’s empowerment and environmental sustainability: A review . Multidisciplinary Reviews, 8(9), 2025298. https://doi.org/10.31893/multirev.2025298
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