In the eye of the storm: Resilience and vulnerability among African American women in the wake of Hurricane Katrina
Citation: Laditka SB, Murray LM, Laditka JN. In the eye of the storm: Resilience and vulnerability among African American women in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Health Care for Women International, 2010:31(11);1013-27.
Free access: No
There are special challenges that African American women faced following Katrina, which suggests that the effects of a natural disasters can also be socially constructed. Governments and other groups responsible for disaster preparation and response should consider the differential burden of disasters that is faced by vulnerable groups.
This systematic review assessed 17 studies of the experiences of African Americans after Hurricane Katrina, with a focus on women. African American women were found to be more likely than others to report that the hurricane experience produced mental health disorders and stress, disrupted social relationship, and strengthened faith and appreciation of families. African American advocated for support and recovery and stressed the need to preserve cultural memories.