Gender issues in fishing communities : a case study of a Cambodian fishing village in Kampong Chhnang Province | |
| Author | Heng Samay |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.GD-05-12 |
| Subject(s) | Sex role--Cambodia Fisheries--Cambodia Fisheries--Sex differences |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. GD-05-12 |
| Abstract | This study was undertaken to know how gender productive and reproductive roles are organized and managed in a Cambodian fishing village. It would inquiry into how culturally defined gender roles in Khmer society are influenced and re-shaped by socio-economic and other external factors. It also highlighted the gender role differences between fishing and non-fishing productive activities. The study was conducted between September and October of 2004 in Kanleng Phe village, one of the state recognized fishing communities in Cambodia, located on South East of Kampong Chhnang Province with a waterway distance of 27 km away from the provincial town. A qualitative approach was followed to conduct the study. Data were collected from key informants of the village and households male and female heads in the area. Male and female respondents from 38 households were interviewed through purposive selections. Focus Group Discussion and unstructured interview methods were used for data collection. Abstraction and thick description techniques were used for analyzing the information and field notes. Both agricultural land and fishing ground are the main natural resources that shape people livelihoods in Kanleng Phe village. The area is flooded seasonally every year from August to November. At that time agricultural and other productive activities become restricted as land area are totally covered under 1-2 meters water. Fishing becomes the main economic activity at that time for most of the households. In terms of typical gender roles, in Kanleng Phe village, women are primarily responsible for households reproductive activity while men are responsible for income generation. However, it shows that both men and women are involved in agriculture and fisheries activities too. Fishing is socially recognized as a male task though women involve in fish processing and fishing gear preparation. However, it is also evident that in flooded season women from poor households are also involved in fish catching as that is the only source of income in flooded season. In flooded season, a few poor household face food crisis especially who do not have sufficient land property. Thus womens labor investment in fishing becomes a coping strategy for poor households survival in flooded season. By pursuing the research questions posed at the beginning of this research, this study has contributed further to the understanding that production and reproduction activities linked to the use of natural resources such as land and fisheries are shaped and differentiated by gender. Context-specific understandings of womens and mens roles heavily influence the use of natural resources and trade in Khmer society. Coping strategies by the poor in the site under study are also organized according to gender. However, during crisis periods, it is possible to organize more flexible labor division arrangements between women and men due to exigency, especially to repay loans. Debt transactions are usually done by women since the element of male shame and status is strongly protected in Khmer society. This therefore adds to the consensus that credit markets and production are institutionally-driven. The use of a gender perspective in this study has demonstrated this. |
| Year | 2005 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. GD-05-12 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Gender and Development Studies (GD) |
| Chairperson(s) | Resurreccion, Bernadette P.; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Kusakabe, Kyoko ;Ahmad, Mokbul Morshed; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Asian Institute of Technology Fellowship ;Japan World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2005 |