A recent review article published in Nature Food explores how post-harvest aquatic food processing technologies affect gender equality and social justice. The study emphasizes that many of these technologies disproportionately impact women in the seafood sector, who are often involved in labour-intensive roles like fish drying and cleaning. While new technologies can improve food quality and safety, they risk reinforcing gender inequalities unless social and cultural factors are addressed. To ensure equitable benefits, gender-sensitive policies are crucial for supporting women’s contributions and rights in aquatic food systems.
The findings of the Nature Food study align closely with the work of Dried Fish Matters, particularly within its Working Group 1 (Gender and Social Economy) and Working Group 3 (Policy, Governance, and Development). DFM’s social economy perspective emphasizes the need for gender-sensitive approaches to support women’s labour in the dried fish sector and advocate for equitable policies that address social justice and gender equality issues.
For more details, you can access the full review article here.