Outside the net: Intersectionality and inequality in the fisheries of Trincomalee, Sri Lanka

ABSTRACT

Inequality and conflict in Sri Lanka have frequently been analyzed along ethnic lines. However, many scholars have stressed the importance of other dimensions of identity, such as gender, caste and class, in studying social tension. This study uses intersectionality theory to examine how a combination of the social categories of gender, race, ethnicity and location creates structural inequality. This article draws upon in-depth research on Muslim, Tamil, Sinhalese and indigenous/Veder women who catch and market fish in the conflict-affected eastern district of Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. The focus was on intra-group differences among these women and the different sources of power they use to subvert existing power structures. Although multiple inequalities affected the respondents’ daily lives and participation in activities, they were not passive victims; they used their own agency to negotiate for their livelihoods. Nevertheless, the women who comprise the focus of this study appeared to be completely invisible to government fisheries management bodies. The lack of institutional representation has disadvantaged them in their negotiations for space to engage in livelihood activities. Registration of these women by the government department of fisheries among those who make a living from fishing would provide them with a first measure of recognition and empowerment, strengthening their chances of negotiating access to the fishery livelihood resources.

ABSTRACT IN TAMIL

KEYWORDS:

• Women in fisheries
• intersectionality
• Sri Lanka
• conflict
• livelihoods

KEYWORDS:

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Notes on contributors

Gayathri LOKUGE is a PhD candidate at the Wageningen University-the Netherlands and a Senior Researcher at the Centre for Poverty Analysis, Colombo-Sri Lanka. Her main research interests include conflict, livelihoods, poverty and identity. Email: [email protected]

Dorothea HILHORST is a Professor at the International Institute of Social Studies in the Netherlands. Her main research interests include humanitarian aid, disaster studies and gender. Email: [email protected]

Notes

1 A beach seine is a fishing net deployed from the beach that hangs vertically in the water with its bottom edge held down by weights and its top edge buoyed by floats. A group of fishermen set and pull the net. The number of fishermen required varies.

2 The data collection for this paper formed part of the doctoral research of the first author, who undertook the field work as well. Therefore, in discussions on data collection, the first person “I” is used, especially in describing interaction with informants in the field. The contribution of the second author was in the research design, analysis and the theoretical framing of the paper. The authors are grateful for the support and advice provided by the Secure Livelihoods Research Consortium.

3 Collecting clams or mussels in the lagoon areas, usually using their hands.

4 See, for example, Glenn (1985), Beneria and Roldon (1987), Zavella (1991) and Hapke (2001).

5 Names of villages have been changed to ensure anonymity.

6 Chena cultivation is also known as shifting cultivation, and it involves the clearing of either primeval or second growth of jungle land every year for cultivation of dry-land products such as grains or certain types of vegetables, for consumption and commercial purposes.