TYLA: The role of women in the community life of coastal fishermen in Hau Loc district, Thanh Hoa province.

Author's name: Le Phuong Thao

Dissertation Title: The Role of Women in the Community Life of Coastal Fishermen in Hau Loc District, Thanh Hoa Province

Field of study of the thesis: History

Major: Ethnology Code: 62 22 70 01

Name of postgraduate training unit: University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi

1. Purpose and scope of the thesis

Research objectives:

- This research clarifies the role of Vietnamese women in households involved in the harvesting, processing, trading, and consumption of seafood in fishing communities, in comparison with the position of Vietnamese women in general.

- To provide documents and scientific explanations to gain an overview of the fishing community, some cultural/environmental characteristics, fishing, processing, and consumption of seafood, and the role of women in the lives of coastal fishing communities in Hau Loc district.

- Contributing to the scientific basis for formulating and implementing policies suitable for fishing communities, especially female workers in coastal fishing areas, in activities related to the trading, processing, and consumption of seafood.

Research subjects:

The research subjects of this thesis are women in households and establishments involved in the exploitation, processing, consumption, and trading of seafood products in Hau Loc district, Thanh Hoa province; specifically, their roles in production activities, in the family, and in the social life of the community in which they live.

In addition, some documents related to state and local policies on fisheries, fishing communities, and female labor within these communities were also researched and analyzed.

2. Research methods used

Women's participation in community activities in general can be approached from many different angles. This study approaches the issue from a socio-cultural anthropological perspective, with particular emphasis on qualitative analysis.

- The ethnographic field research method is considered the primary research method for collecting information and analyzing the thesis's issues. This method includes basic operations such as collecting relevant socio-economic documents and statistics related to the research topic, participatory observation, and in-depth interviews with research subjects.

- Expert method: Consulting with experts and those with in-depth research experience on this topic in the fisheries professional field, especially ethnographers/anthropologists; commune government officials, cultural and fisheries officials at the district and commune levels to obtain assessments of policy-related issues, difficulties and obstacles, and results obtained in programs supporting fishermen and their families.

- Narrative research methods, using stories about the lives of fishermen, are analyzed to gain a better understanding of their characteristics and lifestyles. A diverse group of subjects are selected for in-depth interviews to obtain stories about family life, community life, and how they interact with the ecological environment where they live; thereby providing valuable insights into the contributions of women in fishing families and communities in relation to the socio-economic structure of the ethnic group.

3. Main results and conclusions

3.1. Main results

- Labor and gender roles in fishing communities differ significantly from the division of labor and gender roles in agriculture. While gender roles, particularly those of women, are especially important in fishing communities, the social space they occupy remains largely untapped for researchers and policymakers. This thesis addresses the issue of gender in relation to coastal fishing communities – a research area that has received little attention in ethnographic/anthropological studies.

- To ensure sustainable marine economic development, Hau Loc district has reorganized seafood production and exploitation, restructuring fishing methods to suit the sea area for rational and sustainable exploitation; strengthened production solidarity groups at sea, supporting each other in production, consumption, logistics services, and disaster relief; fishing vessels going out to sea must ensure safety equipment for people and vessels; strictly enforce regulations on exploitation and protection of aquatic resources; prohibit fishing methods that negatively impact aquatic resources. Policies have been implemented to attract businesses to invest in the processing of seafood; and several policies have been implemented to encourage and support exploitation, aquaculture, and fishing services in distant sea areas, aiming to effectively exploit the potential and advantages of the sea area, contributing to socio-economic development.

Along with economic development, community cultural activities and traditional customs related to the characteristics of each coastal village are still preserved and maintained by the fishermen of Hau Loc to this day.

- The results of this thesis provide a vivid picture of the role of women in the coastal fishing community of Hau Loc district, Thanh Hoa province, serving as a basis for developing policies for women in this community with many unique characteristics. Specifically, while the role of men is prominent in maritime activities, their role in family life is significantly diminished. Women consider their primary role in the family to be homemaking and product consumption, meaning they work on land. In these onshore activities, the role of men is limited. The clear distinction between the roles and participation of women in economic activities and in the family is only relative, as economic activities also serve the family. Although to some extent the contributions of women have not been fully recognized and appreciated, for fishing households, their role in processing and trading seafood, as well as within the family, is essential and irreplaceable.

3.2. Conclusion

The sea not only provides a source of seafood that ensures the lives and livelihoods of fishermen, but also impacts and regulates their lives, culture, and society. Fishing communities, relying on the sea for their livelihoods, have unique characteristics dictated by the nature of their occupation. They have many economic, cultural, and social aspects that differ from other communities. Men in fishing communities often go far from home to harvest seafood; women at home must be more proactive in life and shoulder more responsibilities than women engaged in agriculture. This difference is created by the relationship between the characteristics, nature of their occupation, and the marine environment.

Women participate in the entire process, from processing to consumption of seafood products, and in financial management. They contribute significantly to the seafood harvesting activities carried out by men through processing and distribution. For fishing households and communities, their role in processing and trading seafood is essential and irreplaceable. Without them on shore to handle logistics, men would find it difficult to have the time and health to undertake long sea voyages. Women's time and effort are a significant part of men's income.

- In fishing communities, the division of labor between land and sea has significantly influenced the roles of men and women in childcare and raising. Men are often away from home (at sea), leading them to entrust most of the responsibilities and tasks of the family (on land) to women. While the status of women is increasingly elevated in family life, the model of role division remains traditional. Women are still primarily responsible for housework, raising children, and caring for the spiritual well-being of family members. They are also actively involved in the community's religious activities, contributing to the cultural life of the coastal villages of Hau Loc.

- Due to the characteristics of the working environment, the gender division of labor in fishing communities is quite pronounced. Other cultural and social characteristics, such as the undeniable contribution of women to fishing activities and the relative separation between fishing communities and the larger societies from which these communities originated, also demonstrate the interaction between the working environment and the community.

- Half of the fishing workforce is women, and their status and role within the fishing community are determined by many factors. To continue playing a significant role in production, as well as in their families and communities, women need to further enhance their professional skills in increasingly specialized and modernized working conditions. This is crucial for maintaining their livelihoods and further developing seafood processing and consumption activities amidst increasing challenges related to economic activities, family responsibilities, and social obligations. Therefore, the formulation and implementation of policies supporting the fishing industry and fishermen, especially female workers, need to be considered and implemented more seriously, comprehensively, and effectively.

SUMMARY OF DOCTORAL THESIS