CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2023
| Author | Barsseh, Ruth |
|---|---|
| Title | The Social-Sultural Impacts of Interventions on Women in the Fishery Sector: A Case Study of Buchanan and Robertsport, Liberia |
| Summary | Good management for healthy seas needs a clear path that includes women. The importance of the fishery sector cannot be overemphasized as it is the main source of food and livelihood for a vast portion of Liberia's population and other parts of the world; however, it also has significant social and cultural impacts, especially on women due to gender roles, including restrictions due to gender-based cultural norms, healthcare challenges due to fish smoking, and other physical strains. Women are described as the strongest pillow in Liberia’s fisheries sector. However, this pillow is not strong enough to sit on the decision-making tables based on existing social-cultural norms in the sector. The current interventions have rarely been monitored or evaluated for their impact from the community's perspective, especially on women. In Liberia, very few studies are focused on understanding women's roles in fishing communities and their participation as key stakeholders in governance or community interventions. This study provides unique insight and perspective on the impact of community-based interventions from the women's perspective, their experiences, and the challenges they face. The study aims to explore ways in which interventions aimed at improving the livelihood of women in Liberia's fisheries sector may impact roles and responsibilities within their communities, as well as how these interventions affect gender relations within the sector as well as unintended side effects. The research looks at three broad categories of interventions: Training (leadership and communication, community engagement, and education training), financial empowerment (microfinance schemes and community banking), and added value (fish smoking techniques, hygienic handling of fish). The research results provide information to policymakers and practitioners in developing more effective and sustainable interventions to promote women's participation in the fishery sector and to achieve sustainability of fisheries resources. The study's findings indicate that women (fishmongers and processors) have been capacitated with financial management, fish handling, and leadership skills to improve their participation in governance and advocate for sustainable fisheries practices. The VSLA provides access to capital (savings, credit, and loans). The interventions help challenge social-cultural norms about women's role in fisheries, as demonstrated by the CMA leadership. However, the interventions have also increased tension between men and women. The research recommends that men and women be equally engaged in intervention activities to educate them on the importance and benefit of women's participation in fisheries governance. |
| Supervisor | Schaffartzik Anke |
| Department | Environment Sciences and Policy MSc |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2023/barsseh_ruth.pdf |
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