The Women in Seafood Landscape: A Look at the Social and Economic Challenges of Gender-Based Violence

This chapter examines Gender-Based Violence (GBV) against women in the Fisheries sector. It focuses on the social and economic detriments that women and their families are likely to face, and the erosion of their quality of life. This chapter also aims to put forward some policy solutions and training initiatives that may possibly make a difference in the prevalence of domestic violence within the fishing industry. Women in the seafood industry, i.e., in the specific areas of fisheries, aquaculture, fish processing, and all related services represent half of the total working population worldwide. It is estimated that 98% of all fishers and fish farmers lie in developing countries such as Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Out of this percentage, women constitute an estimated 47% of workers, accounting for around 56 million jobs along the fisheries supply chain, especially in the areas of processing and trading. The concept of GBV integrated within this paper, uses the definition agreed by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) in its 2015 guidelines, as an umbrella term for any harmful act that is explicitly perpetrated against a person’s will, and which is based on socially ascribed gender difference between male and females. An overwhelming number of victims and survivors of GBV are women. These victims often, endure many forms of domestic violence which may be, physical, sexual, psychological, and economic violence by way of transactional sex. Historically, the underlying causes of GBV lie in the unequal relations of power between men and women. These inequalities are linked to deep-rooted socio-cultural beliefs and norms, as well as practices that attach specific roles, responsibilities, behaviour, expectations, opportunities, and limitations to a gender. In the case of women, the gender stereotyping of women can lead to either physical, psychological, and social consequences, and at the most extreme, the loss of life. In addition, social stigma and discrimination can further acerbate the woman’s perception of psychological trauma, feelings of powerlessness and inadequacy. This, results in the further degeneration of the women’s sense of self, as their capacity to engage in productive activities both in the home and at work, has now eroded. The presence of GBV, together with the economic challenges faced by the fishing industry, and women employed within the fishing arena, can become a great cost to vulnerable families engaged in agricultural-based work, which is highly labour intensive, and seasonal in nature. GBV is known to raise infant mortality rates and lower birth weights, impacting upon child’s development, has evolved has included socio-economic violence, i.e., the denial of basic resources, and opportunities for development. This form of violence is especially found in rural livelihoods and is likely to be present in the rural families which operate within the fishing industry. To further compound these issues are the economic cost of GBV from the perspective of women fishers often includes the costs associated with the anticipation, consequence, and response of domestic violence. These economic costs can be further broken down to highlight the direct and indirect, as well as the tangible and intangible costs incurred by women fishers and the state. Based on the findings of this chapter, some concluding policy recommendations will be put forward to address the occurrence of GBV within the fishing industry, to promote an enhanced quality of life for all especially that of women fishers.