Negotiating indigenous identities within mainstream community livelihoods: Stories of Aeta women in the Philippines

Abstract

Livelihood participation among members of indigenous communities necessitates redefining of gender roles in indigenous communities. Utilising participatory rural appraisal (PRA) anchored on the principles of Social Identity Theory and Critical Race Theory (CRT), this article draws on a study about adult Aeta women, one of the largest indigenous groups in the mountainous regions of the Philippines. It looks into the perspectives of Aeta women on how livelihood practices address the integration of indigenous communities into mainstream societies. Through seasonal calendars, topical mapping and discussion circles, the study examined Aeta women’s negotiation of their identities as they participate in livelihood practices in mainstream communities. Their community participation indicates how intergroup conflict and social categorisation led to marginalisation and resistance to oppressions to strengthen their will to survive and achieve positive social identities.