Resources

Here you can access some of the main research outputs and resources from the Women in Fisheries project.

Recognizing Women’s Wellbeing and Contribution to Social Resilience in Fisheries
Using interview and focus group data, this paper investigates women’s role in supporting the social resilience of UK fishing communities. Our findings reveal that beyond supporting the economic viability of fishing businesses, women help maintain the social fabric of fisheries and nurture the physical and mental wellbeing of fishing families, often at a cost to their own material, social and emotional wellbeing.

Authored by L. Szaboova, M. Gustavsson, and R. Turner, 2022
Published in Society and Natural Resources
Available at doi.org/10.1080/08941920.2021.2022259

The invisible (woman) entrepreneur? Shifting the discourse from fisheries diversification to entrepreneurship
The article draws on in-depth narrative interviews with women in fishing families in England and Wales who have started, initiated or explored entrepreneurial opportunities to examine (i) whether entrepreneurship enables a (re)negotiation of gender relations within families and (ii) how entrepreneurship develops over the lifecourse.

Authored by M. Gustavsson, 2021
Published in Sociologica Ruralis
Available at doi.org/10.1111/soru.12343

Women’s belongings in UK fisheries
Drawing on in-depth qualitative interviews, the paper finds that women’s practices of belonging make and maintain fishing communities and places, and that women’s practices of belonging both confirm and challenge longstanding notions of who belongs in the fishery – with women fishers challenging socio-spatial exclusions in fishing.

Authored by M. Gustavsson, 2021
Published in Gender, Place & Culture
Available at doi.org/10.1080/0966369X.2021.1873748

Women’s changing productive practices, gender relations and identities in fishing through a critical feminisation perspective
This paper reviews and critically re-interprets literature on women's changing practices in fishing. The review is conceptually framed by drawing on the feminisation approach developed in research on agriculture, and proposes four approaches to be taken forward in future research.

Authored by M. Gustavsson, 2020
Published in Journal of Rural Studies
Available at doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2020.06.006

(R)evolving masculinities in times of change amongst small-scale fishers in North Wales
Based on a case study in the North Wales Llŷn peninsula, this paper examines how local practices (re)define what it means to be a man in this area. It demonstrates the importance of the physicality of fishing and notes how fisher’s bodies are not only central to masculine performances but also embody their fishing history and their relative positioning in their locality.

Authored by M. Gustavsson and M. Riley, 2019
Published in Gender, Place and Culture
Available at doi.org/10.1080/0966369X.2019.1609914

Women, capitals and fishing lives - exploring gendered dynamics in the Llŷn peninsula small-scale fishery
This paper examines the role and position(s) of women in the development and transformation of capital(s). Drawing on in-depth qualitative research it explores the gendering of particular fishing places and practices, and reveals that women’s everyday, often ‘hidden’, activities are central to facilitating capital development and circulation within the fishing family businesses.

Authored by M. Gustavsson and M. Riley, 2018
Published in Maritime Studies, 2018
Available at doi.org/10.1007/s40152-018-0102-z

Attending to the Rhythms of the Sea, Place and Gendered Cultures in Interviewing Fishers and Fishing Families
This chapter draws on ‘in the field’ experiences of using qualitative in-depth interviews with fishers and fishing families. Through discussing the ethical and practical challenges which emerged when interviewing fishers and fishing families, it highlights the importance of adapting research practices to local contexts and rhythms to truly gain an in-depth understanding of fishing lives.

Authored by M. Gustavsson, 2021
Published in Researching people and the sea: methodologies and traditions Palgrave Macmillan
Available at doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-59601-9_3 and download for free at Research Gate

Women in Fisheries: Voices from the industry
This briefing summarises the discussions at the first UK women in fisheries meeting held on the 17th of October 2019 in Exeter. It outlines important themes identified in the meeting, which brought together women from across the UK to share experiences, discuss issues and map out a way forward for women in the fishing industry.

Authored by M. Gustavsson
Published Online
Available at women-fisheries.com/s/WiF-Policy-Brief.pdf

Women in Fisheries films: Our stories

Fathom Podcast