WOMEN’S ROLE IN PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES: A LITERATURE-BASED PERSPECTIVE
Keywords:
Women empowerment; Sustainable communities; Environmental stewardship; Gender and development; Social sustainability; Policy participation; Feminist political ecology; Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)Abstract
This paper examines the pivotal role of women in promoting sustainable communities through a comprehensive review of existing literature. Women have historically been central to natural resource management, environmental activism, and the transmission of traditional knowledge systems, thereby contributing to ecological sustainability. Their engagement in community-based initiatives enhances social cohesion, equity, and intergenerational welfare, while their participation in governance and policy-making has been shown to prioritize essential services such as water, sanitation, and health. Despite these contributions, structural barriers such as unequal access to resources, exclusion from decision-making, and entrenched gender norms continue to restrict women’s potential in sustainability transitions. The article emphasizes the need to integrate gender- sensitive approaches into sustainability frameworks, recognizing women not merely as beneficiaries but as key agents of change. A gender-inclusive strategy is essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and fostering resilient, equitable, and sustainable communities.
