Chapter 6 - Gender Inequality of a Fishing Family in a Small-Scale Fishery: A Case Study on a Fishing Family in Korong Pasir Baru, Nagari Pilubang, Sungai Limau Subdistrict, Padang Pariaman District, West Sumatra, Indonesia

Abstract

The fishing family often lives in very poor conditions without basic amenities. To overcome the problem of poverty in the fishing family, there is a need for full participation and involvement from both men and women in the family. The facts indicate that persistent poverty has forced many women to do the productive work while at the same time continuing to perform reproductive work. The burden of crises often falls on the shoulders of women in fishery households. Nevertheless, the time spent by women doing productive work is rarely considered as a strategic contribution. The role of women often goes unrecognized and unacknowledged in economic and cultural terms. Moreover, women generally have limited access and control over resources, which will lead to gender inequality. Unequal relationships between women and men will affect women’s opportunities to participate and to benefit from development interventions. The present study was conducted to highlight gender division of work, time allocation, and the access and control over family assets and resources in Korong Pasir Baru, Padang Pariaman District, West Sumatra, Indonesia. The results revealed that the time spent by men and women on reproductive, productive, and social activities and their access to family assets are equal for both men and women. However, there is a difference in terms of access to control over resources and decision making, which is biased toward men. The research also identified family characteristics, sociocultural factors, religious factors, educational factors, and the formal legal system to be influencing factors in access to and control of resources in the area.