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Women and Fish-for-Sex: Transactional Sex, HIV/AIDS and Gender in African Fisheries

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  • Béné, Christophe
  • Merten, Sonja

Abstract

Summary This paper analyzes the phenomenon of fish-for-sex in small-scale fisheries and discusses its apparent links to HIV/AIDS and transactional sex practices. The research reveals that fish-for-sex is not an anecdotal phenomenon but a practice increasingly reported in many different developing countries, with the largest number of cases observed in Sub-Saharan African inland fisheries. An overview of the main narratives that attempt to explain the occurrence of FFS practices is presented, along with other discourses and preconceptions, and their limits discussed. The analysis outlines the many different and complex dimensions of fish-for-sex transactions. The paper concludes with a set of recommendations.

Suggested Citation

  • Béné, Christophe & Merten, Sonja, 2008. "Women and Fish-for-Sex: Transactional Sex, HIV/AIDS and Gender in African Fisheries," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 36(5), pages 875-899, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:36:y:2008:i:5:p:875-899
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    Cited by:

    1. Salmen, Charles R. & Hickey, Matthew D. & Fiorella, Kathryn J. & Omollo, Dan & Ouma, Gor & Zoughbie, Daniel & Salmen, Marcus R. & Magerenge, Richard & Tessler, Robert & Campbell, Harold & Geng, Elvin , 2015. "“Wan Kanyakla” (We are together): Community transformations in Kenya following a social network intervention for HIV care," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 332-340.
    2. Camlin, Carol S. & Kwena, Zachary A. & Dworkin, Shari L. & Cohen, Craig R. & Bukusi, Elizabeth A., 2014. "“She mixes her business”: HIV transmission and acquisition risks among female migrants in western Kenya," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 146-156.
    3. Fiorella, Kathryn J. & Camlin, Carol S. & Salmen, Charles R. & Omondi, Ruth & Hickey, Matthew D. & Omollo, Dan O. & Milner, Erin M. & Bukusi, Elizabeth A. & Fernald, Lia C.H. & Brashares, Justin S., 2015. "Transactional Fish-for-Sex Relationships Amid Declining Fish Access in Kenya," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 323-332.
    4. Parkhurst, Justin O. & Chilongozi, David & Hutchinson, Eleanor, 2015. "Doubt, defiance, and identity: Understanding resistance to male circumcision for HIV prevention in Malawi," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 15-22.
    5. Marshall Burke & Erick Gong & Kelly Jones, 2015. "Income Shocks and HIV in Africa," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 125(585), pages 1157-1189, June.
    6. Nunan, Fiona & Hara, Mafaniso & Onyango, Paul, 2015. "Institutions and Co-Management in East African Inland and Malawi Fisheries: A Critical Perspective," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 203-214.
    7. MacPherson, Eleanor E. & Phiri, Mackwellings & Sadalaki, John & Nyongopa, Victoria & Desmond, Nicola & Mwapasa, Victor & Lalloo, David G. & Seeley, Janet & Theobald, Sally, 2020. "Sex, power, marginalisation and HIV amongst young fishermen in Malawi: Exploring intersecting inequalities," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    8. Tomonori Hoshi & Yoshito Fuji & Samson Muuo Nzou & Chihiro Tanigawa & Ibrahim Kiche & Matilu Mwau & Anne Wanjiru Mwangi & Mohamed Karama & Kenji Hirayama & Kensuke Goto & Satoshi Kaneko, 2016. "Spatial Distributions of HIV Infection in an Endemic Area of Western Kenya: Guiding Information for Localized HIV Control and Prevention," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(2), pages 1-14, February.
    9. Durevall, Dick & Lindskog, Annika, 2015. "Intimate Partner Violence and HIV Infection in sub-Saharan Africa," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 27-42.
    10. McPherson, A., 2009. "Fourniture des services de santΘ et autres interventions de lutte contre le VIH/SIDA dans le secteur halieutique en Afrique sub-saharienne," Monographs, The WorldFish Center, number 38695, April.
    11. Pablo Pita & Gillian Barbara Ainsworth & Bernardino Alba & Josep Alós & José Beiro & Pablo Martín-Sosa & Llibori Martínez & Begoña Marugán-Pintos & Beatriz Morales-Nin & Estanis Mugerza & Beatriz Niet, 2023. "Mind the Gender Gap in Marine Recreational Fisheries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-8, July.
    12. Ragsdale, Kathleen & Read-Wahidi, Mary & Marinda, Pamela & Pincus, Lauren & Torell, Elin & Kolbila, Robert, 2022. "Adapting the WEAI to explore gender equity among Fishers, Processors, and sellers at Zambia’s Lake Bangweulu," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    13. Stoebenau, Kirsten & Heise, Lori & Wamoyi, Joyce & Bobrova, Natalia, 2016. "Revisiting the understanding of “transactional sex” in sub-Saharan Africa: A review and synthesis of the literature," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 186-197.
    14. Mojola, Sanyu A., 2011. "Fishing in dangerous waters: Ecology, gender and economy in HIV risk," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 72(2), pages 149-156, January.
    15. Béné, Christophe & Arthur, Robert & Norbury, Hannah & Allison, Edward H. & Beveridge, Malcolm & Bush, Simon & Campling, Liam & Leschen, Will & Little, David & Squires, Dale & Thilsted, Shakuntala H. &, 2016. "Contribution of Fisheries and Aquaculture to Food Security and Poverty Reduction: Assessing the Current Evidence," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 177-196.
    16. Norris, Alison H. & Kitali, Amani J. & Worby, Eric, 2009. "Alcohol and transactional sex: How risky is the mix?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 69(8), pages 1167-1176, October.
    17. McPherson, A., 2009. "Health service delivery and other HIV/AIDS related interventions in the fisheries sector in Sub-Saharan Africa: a literature review," Monographs, The WorldFish Center, number 38688, April.
    18. Freedman, Jane & Rakotoarindrasata, Mina & de Dieu Randrianasolorivo, Jean, 2021. "Analysing the economies of transactional sex amongst young people: Case study of Madagascar," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).

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