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Hurricane Ian wreaked untold damage on millions of homeowners caught in its path.
It is the latest example of the perils of homeownership and the costly expense of rebuilding after a natural disaster. But as sociology professor Robin Bartram points out, this burden is especially hard on Black women who own homes that are in need of repairs even before disaster hits.
Leaky roofs, broken pipes and flooding basements frequently result in code violations and court cases, which may prompt liens, foreclosures and the possibility of homelessness.
Climate change means that these problems are getting worse.
Disrepair, Bartram adds, “also causes health and safety issues, as do other environmental injustices, such as the placement of highways and location of polluting factories.”
Also today:
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The removal of drywall during mold remediation is seen after a basement flood.
Catherine McQueen/Getty Images
Robin Bartram, Tulane University
Routine maintenance is necessary for every homeowner. But for Black women, that burden is complicated by decades of redlining and the impacts of climate change.
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Environment + Energy
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Jennifer Weeks, The Conversation
Published in 1962, ‘Silent Spring’ called attention to collateral damage from widespread use of synthetic pesticides. Many problems the book anticipated persist today in new forms.
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Economy + Business
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James Detert, University of Virginia
Research shows that workers rarely call out unethical behavior or even just operational problems, in large part because they fear serious consequences.
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Na Young Lee, University of Dayton; Adam Hepworth, Ohio University
A study of what customers experience when they’re asked to chip in for a cause during checkout suggests that retailers should be careful about participating in these campaigns.
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Health + Medicine
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Vijaya Daniel, University of Massachusetts
Millions of Americans wear jewelry that pierces the ear, nose, lips, tongue and genital areas. But adorning yourself with metal body art can be a health hazard.
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Politics + Society
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Thom Reilly, Arizona State University
A partisan election system, attacks on election administration and widespread disinformation place the U.S. democracy in a precarious position.
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Sara Wilf, University of California, Los Angeles; Elena Maker Castro, University of California, Los Angeles; Taina Quiles, University of Virginia
The number of immigrant voters is on the rise – and research shows that for young immigrants, social media is where they are primarily wading into politics.
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Science + Technology
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Sara Molinari, Rice University
The walls of your house could someday be built with living bacteria. Synthetic biologists are engineering microbes into living materials that are cheap and sustainable.
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