VULNERABILITY’S DOUBLE BIND: CLIMATE CHANGE AND GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IN MOROCCO

As temperatures climb and resources descend, the most vulnerable face an ever-growing risk of violence.

Climate change and gender-based violence represent two of the most urgent challenges facing developing societies today, particularly in contexts like Morocco, where socio-economic conditions and cultural norms can intensify both vulnerabilities. While a growing body of research has explored climate change’s physiological, psychological, and socio-economic impacts (Anderson & Bushman, 1997; Li et al., 2017), fewer studies connect these environmental stressors to the dynamics of GBV. This gap is especially critical given the interplay between heightened aggression under extreme temperatures and deeply rooted gender norms.

Linking Climate Stressors and Gender-Based Violence?

Extensive scholarship has shown that rising temperatures and climate-induced stress can influence human behavior (Anderson & Bushman, 1997). Dubbed the heat hypothesis, this framework suggests that discomfort from heat can heighten irritability, reduce tolerance, and potentially escalate conflict. Although this theory has been corroborated by studies linking warmer climates to spikes in interpersonal violence, its application to gender-based violence remains underexplored, especially in North African contexts like Morocco.

Socio-Cultural Norms and Power Structures

Concurrently, social science literature on GBV points to structural inequalities that often remain hidden in everyday life (WHO, 2021). In many cultures, including segments of Moroccan society, patriarchal norms can perpetuate power imbalances and undermine women’s ability to safely navigate stressors, be they economic, social, or environmental. When combined with climate-induced pressures such as heatwaves, droughts, or resource shortages, these power disparities may worsen, leaving women more susceptible to violence. Researchers note that GBV often increases in times of crisis or upheaval, whether due to natural disasters or broader socio-political unrest (UN Women, 2022). Climate events, in this sense, act as amplifiers, intensifying pre-existing social vulnerabilities.

Psychological Dimensions of Combined Stressors

Studies in environmental psychology and social psychology provide insights into how collective stress from climate change can intersect with cultural factors. Anderson et al. (2017) argue that societal pressures, like unemployment or limited resources, create an environment conducive to tension. Add to this the discomfort of extreme heat, and aggression can escalate quickly. In countries where legal frameworks and social services may not fully safeguard survivors of violence, that aggression often manifests as intimate partner violence, family violence, or other forms of GBV.

Emerging Moroccan Scholarship

Moroccan researchers are increasingly aware of the double bind experienced by women in the face of climate challenges. Although limited, existing studies highlight how environmental scarcity or altered weather patterns can increase household stress, triggering negative coping mechanisms (El Khatri, 2020). Combined with entrenched gender roles, these pressures contribute to a climate where women, in particular, remain at higher risk of physical, emotional, or economic abuse. By underlining the socio-cultural backdrop, where silence around domestic violence can be culturally normalized, these studies underscore the urgency of a nuanced exploration that includes psychological, sociological, and legal perspectives.

Building on these theoretical underpinnings, the present study approached the subject by integrating both quantitative and qualitative methods to capture the complexity of climate-induced vulnerabilities in Morocco. A semi-structured questionnaire explored respondents’ perceptions of how rising temperatures and broader climate stressors may coincide with increased tension in households. While the data offered numerical insights (e.g., frequency of reported conflict) and personal narratives (e.g., open-ended comments), the goal was to contextualize these findings within existing literature rather than present raw numbers in isolation. By drawing on multiple forms of evidence, this approach allowed for a more layered understanding of GBV’s intersection with climate stress.

Discussion: Intersections and Implications

Amplifying Socio-Economic Pressures

One of the central findings from various scholarly works is the manner in which climate change intensifies socio-economic pressures. In Morocco, rural communities dependent on agriculture often face livelihood uncertainty during droughts or heatwaves (Hammouda, 2019). Economic strain can fuel household tensions, creating scenarios where hostility toward female family members escalates. Literature suggests that where legal protections or social services are weak, this tension can culminate in heightened GBV rates.

Entrenched Gender Norms

Cultural norms in many societies, including Morocco, often stigmatize or trivialize conversations around domestic violence. As a result, official statistics on GBV frequently underestimate the true scale of the problem (WHO, 2021). When those same communities experience the stress of rising temperatures or diminished resources, pre-existing norms can inhibit women from seeking help. Scholars warn that patriarchal attitudes not only keep violence hidden but also impede societal readiness to address the root causes of that violence, including the climate-induced pressures.

Psychological Tipping Points

From a psychological standpoint, extreme heat can serve as a direct catalyst for anger, irritability, and aggression. Literature on the heat hypothesis has repeatedly demonstrated that higher temperatures correlate with increased conflict (Anderson & Bushman, 1997). When layered atop chronic stress, like poverty, unemployment, or discrimination, this climate factor can tip vulnerable households into cycles of violence. Recognizing the emotional and mental health dimensions in such scenarios is vital, especially in cultures where mental health discussions may be stigmatized.

The Need for Integrated Approaches?

Current literature underscores the urgency of addressing both climate change and GBV in tandem. Effective policy responses in Morocco must therefore engage various sectors, environmental agencies, social services, education, and law enforcement. By acknowledging that climate pressures can exacerbate existing gender inequalities, stakeholders can develop targeted strategies that offer both short-term relief (e.g., emergency shelters or heat advisories) and long-term reform (e.g., empowerment programs, legal reforms, and mental health support).

Overall, while climate change has been widely recognized as a global crisis, its specific influence on gender-based violence in culturally distinct settings like Morocco has only begun to gain attention. Literature suggests that a holistic understanding, one that combines insights from psychology, sociology, and environmental studies, is critical for devising meaningful interventions. This emerging body of work highlights a troubling yet essential reality: as temperatures climb and resources dwindle, the most vulnerable face an ever-growing risk of violence. Moving forward, academic and policy-focused collaborations are imperative, not only to fill research gaps but also to implement multi-layered solutions that protect women and, by extension, the broader community.