Gendered Dimensions of Crisis Communication: Women’s Lived Experiences During the 2025 Floods in Pakistan

Abstract

Aim of the Study: The study explores the way women in Pakistan experienced crisis communication in the floods of 2025. It examines the issues they encounter, the encouragement they get, and the communication gaps in the case of emergencies. This paper seeks to learn the way in which gender affects the access to information and protection during the disaster. It also shows how improved communication will provide greater protection to women in emergencies to come.

Methodology: The current study was performed by a qualitative design. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews with 15 women who have been affected by floods in Pakistan (Punjab, KP). Purposive sampling was used to select the participants. All the interviews were videotaped and transcribed. Thematic analysis was used to determine themes that were common and ethical guidelines were followed. Each participant gave their consent and their information was stored.

Findings: Women faced a lot of communication problems at the time of floods of 2025.  A lot of them were late in getting warnings due to being in the control of men, and the public alerts were primarily targeted towards men. The culture did not allow women to attend meetings as they were confined at homes or checking formal updates.

Conclusion: The study concluded that during the 2025 flood in Pakistan, women faced many issues, including limited cellphone access, digital gadgets, and dependency on male family members for access to online information. Findings from earlier research work from Pakistan highlight that the technological warning system is out of reach for women in the country, especially when they do not have control over digital devices (Shah et al., 2022). International research also validates that uneven digital access increases the vulnerability of women during times of disaster (UN Women, 2025).