Gender Dimension of Subjective Wellbeing in Fishing Community (A case study of Rekawa fishing village in Sri Lanka)

Abstract

This paper focuses on the gender dimensions of subjective wellbeing in fishing households Rekawa Sri Lanka by applying Global Person Generated Index (GPGI) to understand wellbeing need of a fishing community. Information for this paper gathered from a mix of methods, including an initial phase of open-ended interview were carried with hundreds of respondents (50 women 50 men selected) and focus group discussions with key informant of the village. The fisher households were selected through simple random sampling technique. The men and the women of one household were interviewed simultaneously but separate locations to prevent influence from each other for their response. The paper emphasized essentiality of studying wellbeing of both fishermen and fisherwomen together to get a holistic landscape of wellbeing in fishing community because mixture of wellbeing aspects of both men and women synergistically or antagonistically influence on overall wellbeing of household. As well family husband and wife has common and sharing wellbeing goal. Both of them work together to achieve those. According to the gender role, difference some wellbeing aspects critically important for one gender than other. (Fishing gear was mentioned by significantly high number of fishermen than fisherwomen). The wellbeing needs of fishermen are more material oriented and fisherwomen are more subjective oriented. Both male and female highly satisfied on relational wellbeing factors but they dissatisfied on relational wellbeing. Entangle in a loan trap, uncertainty of income are common wellbeing issues for both fishermen and fisherwomen. Addiction of household head for liquor is one of a major wellbeing issue for fisherwomen. Ability of fisherwomen to manage household economy under uncertainty condition was come out as a one of a causal factor to create wellbeing variation among fishing families in the community.