A digitised version of ICSF library, with more than 2000 original documents and 12,000+ curated links, collected over the last 33 years The International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF) is an international non-governmental organization that works towards the establishment of equitable, gender-just,self-reliant and sustainable fisheries, particularly in the small-scale, artisanal sector.
Search
as

Gender equality is diluted in commitments made to small-scale fisheries

Lawless, Sarah and Cohen, Philippa J. and Mangubhai, Sangeeta and Kleiber, Danika and Morrison, Tiffany H. (2021) Gender equality is diluted in commitments made to small-scale fisheries. World Development, Vo.140. pp. 1-15.

Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)
Official URL: https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S0305750...

Abstract

Gender equality is a mainstream principle of good environmental governance and sustainable development. Progress toward gender equality in the fisheries sector is critical for effective and equitable development outcomes in coastal countries. However, while commitments to gender equality have surged at global, regional and national levels, little is known about how this principle is constructed, and implemented across different geographies and contexts. Consequently, progress toward gender equality is difficult to assess and navigate. To identify influential policy instruments (n = 76), we conducted key-informant interviews with governance actors engaged in small-scale fisheries (n = 26) and gender and development (n = 9) sectors across the Pacific Islands region. We systematically analysed these instruments according to (1) representations of gender and gender equality, (2) rationales for pursing gender, and (3) gender strategies and actions. We found that fisheries policy instruments frequently narrowed the concept of gender to a focus on women, whereas gender and development policy instruments considered gender as diverse social identities, norms and relations. In fisheries policy instruments, rationales for pursuing gender equality diverged substantially yet, overall the principle was predominantly pursued for instrumental (i.e., improved environmental outcomes) rather than intrinsic (i.e., an inherent value in fairness) reasons. Over two-thirds of gender equality strategies focused on an organization’s own human resourcing and project assessments, rather than on direct action within communities, or for women and men reliant on fisheries. Our findings illustrate gender equality commitments and investments to be narrow and outdated. Critical shifts in dominant gender equality narratives and objectives, and an embrace of multi-level strategies, provide opportunities for fisheries governance and development agendas to rise to current best practice, and ultimately make meaningful (opposed to rhetorical) progress toward gender equality. The methodological approach we develop holds value for other development sectors to critically examine, and subsequently enhance, commitment toward gender equality.

Item Type: Articles
Keywords: Small-scale Fisheries, Gender, Equality, Governance, Equity, Pacific Islands, Sustainable Development, Women, Fisheries Policy, Equality Strategies
Subjects: Gender in Fisheries and Aquaculture
Depositing User: Users 4 not found.
Date Deposited: 16 Dec 2021 06:19
Last Modified: 16 Dec 2021 06:19
URI: http://icsfarchives.net/id/eprint/6042

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item