There are still many examples of women not being taken as seriously as men in politics, in the workplace and even in the home. However, did you know that this level of sexism is applicable to natural disasters too?

Featured Image VIA

According to research by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) female hurricanes are deadlier than male ones because people don’t take women as seriously.

More people are dying in hurricanes with female names (e.g. Hurricane Irma) because it’s assumed by those hit that a hurricane with a male name (e.g. Hurricane Harvey) is more powerful and dangerous.

Image VIA

The study explains:

Feminine-named hurricanes (vs. masculine-named hurricanes) cause significantly more deaths, apparently because they lead to lower perceived risk and consequently less preparedness. Using names such as Eloise or Charlie for referencing hurricanes has been thought by meteorologists to enhance the clarity and recall of storm information.

I mean, I don’t quite get how we’re still at this point in 2017 and although it’s no one’s particular fault that they’ve been brought up to believe that women are less powerful then men, but you can’t help but shake your head in disbelief at the whole thing.

In the current state that the world is in (earthquakes, flooding, mega storms, tsunami threats) we don’t even have time to re-socialise the entire population and change the way it perceives different genders. Therefore I propose that we just scrap the whole boy/girl naming thing and start giving these storms the terrifying names they deserve, for example MEGA-DESTRUCT X5000 or DEMON’S REVENGE. We don’t have time to beat around the bush when people’s lives are at risk.

To read about what Richard Branson was up to while Hurricane Irma hit his luxury resort, click HERE. It’s alright for some.