Representation justice as a research agenda for socio-hydrology and water governance

We propose representation justice as a theoretical lens for socio-hydrology and water governance studies. An exploratory survey of 496 water sector employees in the United States revealed that self-identifying females felt more strongly discriminated against due to their gender and other social fact...

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Published inHydrological sciences journal Vol. 66; no. 11; pp. 1611 - 1624
Main Authors Haeffner, Melissa, Hellman, Dana, Cantor, Alida, Ajibade, Idowu, Oyanedel-Craver, Vinka, Kelly, Maura, Schifman, Laura, Weasel, Lisa
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Abingdon Taylor & Francis 18.08.2021
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Subjects
Careers
Decision making
feminist political ecology
Gender
Governance
Hydrologic models
Hydrology
hydrosocial studies
inequality regimes
intersectionality
Leadership
Lenses
representation justice
Representations
Social factors
socio-hydrology
Surveying
Water governance
Water management
Water policy
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Summary:We propose representation justice as a theoretical lens for socio-hydrology and water governance studies. An exploratory survey of 496 water sector employees in the United States revealed that self-identifying females felt more strongly discriminated against due to their gender and other social factors, compared to self-identifying males. Responses unveiled how macro- and microaggressions impede career pathways to leadership positions and, therefore, representation. We identify ways in which socio-hydrology can benefit from a representation justice lens by considering the following: (1) how power and politics shape the composition of the water sector and decision-making processes; (2) how available quantitative data do not account for lived experiences of individuals in the water sector; and (3) how intersectionality cannot easily be accounted for in current socio-hydrological models. We offer a representation justice research and water management agenda that goes beyond quota filling to include meaningful engagement with diverse groups, lenses, and knowledge.
ISSN:0262-6667
2150-3435
DOI:10.1080/02626667.2021.1945609