The real cause of disasters might surprise you. “Disasters are social constructs because they are not the direct result of hazards like earthquakes or volcanic activity. They stem from conditions of vulnerability and exposure that are built over time through perceptions, decision-making, and even omissions,” says Irasema Alcántara-Ayala, Professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. "And these conditions are not neutral—they affect women and girls more, as they generally have less a