Davao Oriental State University

A Discussion Paper about

Knowledge, Gender, and Resources in Small-Scale Fishing: The Case of

Honda Bay, Palawan, Philippines

Women and Climate Stress: Role Reversal from Beneficiaries to Expert

Participants

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Submitted to

Mr. Edison D. Macusi

STS Teacher

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In Partial Fulfilment

Of the Requirement in

Science, Technology and Society

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by

CHARLENE T. REGASAJO

BSBA Student of Section BA1F

 Knowledge, Gender, and Resources in Small-Scale Fishing: The Case of
Honda Bay, Palawan, Philippines

Introduction

Men and women interact in different ways with natural resources. Just like
how they differ in terms of their roles in the family and community, they also differ in
terms of resource use practices. While using resources differently, men and women
make use of their different experiences and observations in learning about their
environment, which provide them with different knowledge. Therefore, it is indeed
that gender is a “key dimension of social difference affecting people’s experience,
concerns and capabilities in resource management” (Leach and others, 1995).

This study of Susana V. Siar entitled “Knowledge, Gender, and Resources in

Small-Scale Fishing: The Case of Honda Bay, Palawan, Philippines” describes the
differences of knowledge possessed by men, women, and children that they
acquired from their different experiences in resource use practices. This study also
states that the differences in knowledge and resource use are important and could
provide different opportunities to conserve biodiversity and manage resources
sustainably.

About the Study

This study of Susana V. Siar was conducted at Honda Bay, Palawan,

Philippines, specifically in a fishing village along Honda Bay on the eastern coast of
Palawan. The purpose of this study is to determine the following:

 the differences in knowledge among men, women, and children about fishery
resource
 how villagers classify fishery resources and what they pay attention to when
classifying or categorizing
 which resources were important to the villagers

The researcher gathered data using a combination of structured and

unstructured interview techniques, including free listing, pile sort and ranking. There
were 30 men, 30 women, and 24 children (12 boys and 12 girls) as the participants
in this study.
Policy Recommendations and Conclusion

a.) Recommendations
1. Programs must recognize the different roles played by men and women
in resources to have positive outcomes.
Recognizing the differences between men and women is an essential part of
implementing programs. Such as biodiversity conservation and resource
management, men and women are likely to have different knowledge,
opinions, and power over resources. They also differ in resource use, which
provides various opportunities to conserve and manage it more sustainably.
2. Both men and women should participate in resource management and
disseminate their knowledge for decision-making.

In managing resources, knowledge is one of the essential aspects in making

an efficient plan and actions. Hence, there would be more opportunities and
ideas if they will include both men and women who have different ways of
using resources. With such differences in resource use, men and women also
have distinct observations and experiences that provide them with multifarious
knowledge.

b.) Conclusion
In this paper, the researcher found that men and women differ in their
knowledge about fishery resources, and this is because they have different
roles played in it. Women are more knowledgeable about the resources in the
intertidal zone, while men are more knowledgeable about the resources in the
coral reefs and deep water. In addition, the children’s knowledge about shells
was closer to the women, while about fish was closer to the men. Aside from
these, in classifying those resources, appearance was the basis of the
women. On the other hand, a combination of appearance, habitat, and type of
fishing gear were the competing considerations in the men’s pile sorts. When
it comes to which resources were important to the villagers, women
informants said that shells are valuable for them while fish were for men.
However, both women and men informants agreed that market price and the
type of fishing gear were the predominant criteria for deciding which
resources were important. To wrap up, it is indeed that the access to
resources and knowledge about those resources are influenced by gender
and resource use practice.
 Women and Climate Stress: Role Reversal from Beneficiaries to Expert
Participants

Introduction

In many countries, women are expected to play certain roles based on

traditions, religions, and other beliefs. In region of eastern India, women play a very
important role in household nutrition management and resource management in
terms of labor, off-farm products, and small savings. However, one of the great
concerns worldwide that also challenge their means of securing the necessities of
life is the climate stress.

In marginalized communities of the high-risk regions prone to flood and

drought, women who are living there are considered the most vulnerable to the
effects of climate change. One of the factors that also deteriorate their situation is the
absence of help from formal and informal R and D and technology institutions.
Therefore, the help of external agencies from public, private, and civil society is
highly needed to assist women in coping with climate fluctuation particularly in the
context of paddy cultivation in mainly rain-fed regions.

About this Study

This study of Anamika Dey, Anil K. Gupta and Gurdeep Singh entitled
“Women and Climate Stress: Role Reversal from Beneficiaries to Expert
Participants” was conducted from 1989–90 to 2014–15 as part of a larger
longitudinal study on loss of agrobiodiversity in three villages Isoulibhari,
Shivnathpur, and Kharella in Faizabad district in eastern Uttar Pradesh, India. The
aims of this study are the following:

 To assess the role of individual women in coping with the climatic risks, with
special reference to managing agriculture, energy, and nutrition in flood- and
drought-prone paddygrowing region of eastern India.
 To determine how external agencies from public, private, and civil society can
help disadvantaged women in coping with climate fluctuation particularly in the
context of paddy cultivation in mainly rain-fed regions.

The researchers gathered data using opportunistic focused group interviews

conducted wherever women’s participation was noticed, and by selecting
participants through opportunistic sampling. Among the data gathered, the study
found that these women have different adjustment strategies to cope with seasonal
irregularities in food and animal feed supply due to climate change. The researchers
have seen those women how they cope by exchange or pooling labor, knowledge,
and other biological resources, which serve as valuable informal safety nets and
contribute to household resilience.

Policy Recommendations and Conclusion

a.) Recommendations
1. The external agencies should implement seminars or trainings to teach
women on how they can utilize their knowledge efficiently and improve
more their strategies.
As discussed above, women have their own coping strategies with climate
risks. However, it would be more effective if women will be trained with their
enhanced techniques to ensure food security. Hence, external agencies from
public, private, and civil society can help disadvantaged women by providing
them seminars in coping with climate fluctuation particularly in the context of
paddy cultivation in mainly rain-fed regions.
2. Women should be equitably engaged in decision-making and
leadership.
Women are more likely to focus on their care giving responsibilities and
livelihood activities that are often highly dependent on natural resources.
Hence, their observations and experiences provide them with exact
knowledge, which they can also use in managing those resources. Women
with this kind of knowledge should be included in decision-making regarding
on how to manage resources despite of having climate stress.
b.) Conclusion
In this study, the researchers discussed that despite of the climate
fluctuation/risks and lack of technological alternatives in the region of eastern India;
women who are living there have their own creative way or strategies in coping with
climate variability and food security. The researchers had better understand those
strategies as the 4E’s (Expertise, Exchange, Environmental consciousness, and the
Ethics of open sharing). However, only those women who have some autonomy are
able to cope better as they can share resources with others. Therefore, it is indeed
that women would need both, the autonomy and agency to allow them to exchange
of knowledge, and other resources including labor and skills.