Chapter 3: Negotiating Gendered Constraints Through Collective Bargaining: Experiences of Two Groups of Women Fish Workers in Tamil Nadu

Women play a pivotal role in the small-scale fisheries sector, contributing to the economic, social and environmental sustainability of coastal regions. As India’s fish processing sector shifts towards commercial, export-oriented production, equipping women with modern technologies is crucial for producing high-quality, hygienic products and connecting them with traders. This study examines the gendered experiences of women in post-harvest fishery activities in two fishing villages in Mayiladuthurai district, Tamil Nadu. Despite facing resource depletion, ecological crises and socio-economic inequalities, women using traditional methods and those leveraging modern technologies exhibit different capacities to cope with vulnerabilities. The first group, engaged in traditional processing, faces intense physical labour, drudgery, health risks and low income. In contrast, the second group, part of a fish workers’ collective, has better access to technologies, digital tools and institutional support, which improves their post-harvest activities. Based on qualitative field research, this chapter highlights the occupational vulnerabilities of women in traditional fisheries and demonstrates how collectivisation, new technologies and institutional linkages enhance their adaptive capacities and help them manage gendered vulnerabilities more effectively.