Gender and aquaculture value chains: A review of key issues and implications for research
This paper (PDF) in the Aquaculture journal aims to elucidate current knowledge of gendered engagement in and returns from aquaculture value chains. It presents a review of existing evidence on gender issues in aquaculture value chains along five key dimensions: gender division of labor, distribution of benefits, access and control over assets and resources, gender and social norms, power relations and governance. Subsequently, it present the potential results for value chain performance and potential upgrading pathways. Although aquaculture is the fastest growing food producing sector in the world and generates significant employment opportunities at multiple scales, men and women are not necessarily able to participate in aquaculture value chains in the same way, and benefits may not be evenly distributed between them. There is limited data available on gender and women participation in aquaculture value chains. However, existing evidence indicates gendered imbalances in all five dimensions assessed, with formal and informal barriers, including gender norms, limiting women’s equal engagement and returns. Limited evidence was also available for the impact of gender inequity on value chain performance. While the upgrading pathways as described in the literature may result in economic upgrading, they may have limited effect on improving inequity or social conditions in the chain, if they do not take underlying inequities in institutions into account. Concluded is that research is needed to elucidate practical ways to increase women’s engagement in and returns from aquaculture value chains through addressing formal and informal barriers to women’s control over assets, including shifting underlying gender norms and relations towards gender equality