Gendered occupations and economic contribution in fishing households: Evidence and insights from Wular Lake, Jammu Kashmir, India

Abstract

This study investigates the occupational diversity, work participation and economic contribution of men and women in the fishing households, dependent on one of the Asia's largest freshwater ecosystems, Wular Lake in India. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews with 170 fishing households from nine major fishing hamlets located on Wular Lake periphery. The results revealed a diverse range of occupational activities with complexity and interdependence among men and women within households. Men, primarily, fished for seven months during the peak spring and summer, and harvested trapa (water chestnut) during winter months. Women, on the other hand, retailed fish throughout the year, harvested trapa during summer, and processed trapa during August to March. Women work participation was higher, reflecting in higher work participation rate and low economic dependency (1.14). Women contributed nearly 20% of household income in Wular Lake region. The estimated mean discriminant scores for three major occupational groups, -0.369 for fishing, -1.186 for trapa, and 0.923 for both fishing and trapa confirmed their distinct income, gender and age profiles. Men and women perceived occupational drudgery differently. Men perceived fishing and trapa harvesting as having medium and low drudgery respectively, while women felt the opposite. Emphasising the gendered division of labour and women's economic contribution, the study calls for recognising women's role in fish and water chestnet value chains. Promoting collectivisation, strengthening capacity, and easing credit flow to women would help realise more returns and enhance the overall economic and human well-being in fishing households