Reframing Water Conservation: Jessica Cattelino and Kelsey Kim Highlight Gender and Class Gaps in LA Policies
In a recent panel hosted by the UCLA Graduate Student Water Resources Group, Professor Jessica Cattelino and doctoral candidate Kelsey Kim presented findings from their ethnographic study on household water use in Los Angeles. Their research highlights that water management responsibilities disproportionately fall on women, even in households that view their labor divisions as egalitarian. This oversight in current water conservation campaigns can inadvertently perpetuate gender disparities by not acknowledging the unpaid labor women contribute to water management. Additionally, the study emphasizes that immigrant communities often possess valuable water conservation knowledge rooted in their cultural practices. For instance, the Park family utilizes leftover water from washing vegetables to nourish plants, a practice influenced by experiences during the Korean War. Such insights suggest that water conservation efforts should integrate and value the expertise present within these communities. The panelists advocate for a reframing of Los Angeles’ water conservation strategies to address the intersections of gender, class, and cultural practices, ensuring more effective and equitable water management policies. To learn more, you can read the article here.
