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Transactional Fish-for-Sex Relationships Amid Declining Fish Access in Kenya

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  • Fiorella, Kathryn J.
  • Camlin, Carol S.
  • Salmen, Charles R.
  • Omondi, Ruth
  • Hickey, Matthew D.
  • Omollo, Dan O.
  • Milner, Erin M.
  • Bukusi, Elizabeth A.
  • Fernald, Lia C.H.
  • Brashares, Justin S.

Abstract

Women’s access to natural resources for food and livelihoods is shaped by resource availability, income, and the gender dynamics that mediate access. In fisheries, where men often fish but women comprise 90% of traders, transactional sex is among the strategies women use to access resources. Using the case of Lake Victoria, we employed mixed methods (in-depth interviews, n=30; cross-sectional survey, n=303) to analyze the influence of fish declines on fish-for-sex relationships. We found that fish declines affect relationship duration and women’s bargaining power. Our results have broad implications for the dynamics of economies dependent on increasingly scarce resources throughout the world.

Suggested Citation

  • Fiorella, Kathryn J. & Camlin, Carol S. & Salmen, Charles R. & Omondi, Ruth & Hickey, Matthew D. & Omollo, Dan O. & Milner, Erin M. & Bukusi, Elizabeth A. & Fernald, Lia C.H. & Brashares, Justin S., 2015. "Transactional Fish-for-Sex Relationships Amid Declining Fish Access in Kenya," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 323-332.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:74:y:2015:i:c:p:323-332
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2015.05.015
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    Cited by:

    1. Salmen, Charles R. & Hickey, Matthew D. & Fiorella, Kathryn J. & Omollo, Dan & Ouma, Gor & Zoughbie, Daniel & Salmen, Marcus R. & Magerenge, Richard & Tessler, Robert & Campbell, Harold & Geng, Elvin , 2015. "“Wan Kanyakla” (We are together): Community transformations in Kenya following a social network intervention for HIV care," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 332-340.
    2. Ragsdale, Kathleen & Read-Wahidi, Mary & Marinda, Pamela & Pincus, Lauren & Torell, Elin & Kolbila, Robert, 2022. "Adapting the WEAI to explore gender equity among Fishers, Processors, and sellers at Zambia’s Lake Bangweulu," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    3. Esther O. Chung & Brian Mattah & Matthew D. Hickey & Charles R. Salmen & Erin M. Milner & Elizabeth A. Bukusi & Justin S. Brashares & Sera L. Young & Lia C.H. Fernald & Kathryn J. Fiorella, 2019. "Characteristics of Pica Behavior among Mothers around Lake Victoria, Kenya: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-12, July.
    4. Atkins, M. & McDougall, C. & Cohen, P.J., 2021. "COVID-19 impacts on women fish processors and traders in sub-Saharan Africa: Insights and recommendations for building forward better," Monographs, The WorldFish Center, number 40973, April.
    5. DeLorme, Autumn L. & Gavenus, Erika R. & Salmen, Charles R. & Benard, Gor Ouma & Mattah, Brian & Bukusi, Elizabeth & Fiorella, Kathryn J., 2018. "Nourishing networks: A social-ecological analysis of a network intervention for improving household nutrition in Western Kenya," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 95-103.

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