Shedding light on the hidden struggles: Intersectional vulnerabilities of urban women in Deyang during the COVID-19

This study investigated how gender roles and other social factors intersect to create vulnerabilities of women during disasters. Data were collected through an online survey (N = 297) and interviews in Deyang throughout the Zero-COVID period. The focus was on understanding the economic, physical, psychological, and social vulnerabilities of women in the context of the COVID-19. Findings reveal that the intersection of traditional gender roles and workers with lower education experienced higher economic vulnerability. However, the overall economic downturn also affected women with relatively stable jobs. For physical vulnerability, caregiving and household work, along with patriarchal norms, were significant factors. Most women in Deyang did not receive adequate government support, and mothers who struggled to obtain essential medical supplies faced greater health-related challenges. Psychologically, maintaining stable routines in the household and caregiving work and a positive attitude played a crucial role in reducing psychological distress. However, no strong connection was found between social capital and social vulnerability. In Deyang, family support (bonding capital) was an important resource for women but community support (bridging capital) was notably invisible. These results provide important empirical evidence on how the intersection of social factors in the daily lives of women in a mid-sized Chinese city creates various forms of vulnerability. This study underscores the need for targeted protections for balancing household and caregiving responsibilities and professional roles, strengthening local networks, and supporting women's community-building initiatives as essential measures to reduce vulnerabilities during disaster situations. © 2025 The Author.