Genderizing fisheries: Assessing over thirty years of women's participation in Alaska fisheries

Abstract

This study examines the dynamics of women's engagement in Alaska commercial fisheries including their roles within fishing families, the evolution of women's participation, perceptions of equity and access, and the effects of gender traditionalism. Such gendered effects of changes in ecological, social, economic, and management conditions need to be understood in order to mitigate biases and unintended consequences. Women's engagement in Alaska fisheries was examined using a combination of quantitative analysis of 30 years of harvest data, and qualitative analysis of 7 focus groups. Women's participation in Alaska commercial fisheries parallels trends and influences documented around the world. This participation is highly responsive to and bound by family conditions and is influenced by gender stereotypes, taboos, norms, and harassment. Although study participants perceived that opportunities for women had increased in Alaska fisheries, examination of harvest data showed men continue to dominate the industry. Women play the key adaptive role in fishing families, entering and exiting fisheries in response to changing conditions, especially when having children. This responsiveness may marginalize women in fisheries as the increasing institution of catch share and limited entry programs entitles a set of participants usually on the basis of fishing history and often increases the price of entry into those fisheries. Moreover, fisheries earnings for women are highly concentrated in salmon, which exacerbates their economic vulnerabilities in the face of decreasing diversification opportunities. Thus the dynamics of women's fisheries participation is an important lens for evaluating potential policy effects and is one that necessitates continued research.