This journal article examines the current gender-neutral framing of social protection systems in the disaster areas of four countries, and their operations. Through a comparative and cross-sectional study of the effects of tsunami on women, the study focuses on the factors and processes that have led to the exclusion of certain groups of women such as widows and the elderly, from relief and recovery assistance. Through this, the article concludes that vulnerability is not only an outcome of localised and individual social dimensions such as age, gender and marital status, but is also an outcome of deeper social relations of national and global powers who’s systems perpetuate institutionalised discrimination. This has resulted in many different groups of women lacking protection and assistance to live with dignity. The article speaks directly to disaster management organisations and proposes that they adopt a women’s rights strategy that must be incorporated into policies, practices and social protection systems.