The gender division of labor in fish processing in Lake Chapala. A source of bargaining power

Abstract

Lake Chapala's fisheries have been an important economic activity for hundreds of years. However, the introduction of carpe and tilapia forced a change in the market structure, including the processing-value-adding-activities. Currently, filleting-fish is a successfully growing industry, which employs mostly women from the coastal communities. This paper aims to identify the factors influencing the division of labor in fish-processing and the determinants of bargaining-power for women. Fieldwork was carried out between 2015 and 2017 in three communities bordering Lake Chapala, Mexico (Jamay, Petatán, LaPalma), using a survey strategy based on questionnaires and formal and informal interviews to obtain qualitative and quantitative data. Findings show that fish-processing as a labor market opportunity for women is a source of bargaining power, working hours are flexible, and it is a constant and reliable source of income, unlike fishing. In each community the gender division of labor is constructed according to the local culture and the gendered-social-norms. In Petatán, fish-processing is a woman dominated activity, highly valued, with the largest average income, complementary to household income. Jamay has male (20%) and female (80%) fish-processors, fish-processing is their only source of income, and is considered an activity for single mothers (35%) or those who do not have access to better jobs. In both communities, married women's contribution to household income depends on their husband's daily earnings ranging between 25 and 75%. In LaPalma, fish-processing is a male-dominated activity, where women do not dare to work among the young filleting workers, who are breadwinners.