Abstract
The fisherfolk of Gwadar have been displaced due to the construction of deep-sea port, Gwadar city project, housing schemes, and other infrastructure under China Pakistan Economic Corridor. The thousands kilometer road under China’s Belt and Road Initiative has dislocated thousands of people in Pakistani province Balochistan with violent tactics like burning the houses/belongings, forced displacement of the villages, and enforced disappearance of the natives. Gwadar port is the central focus of BRI project. Before, west and east bay were central stations of the small boats of local fishery community where activities related to fishing economy like net making, boat manufacturing and repairing, and fish marketing were operated. Mounted with the above-mentioned scenario, the women of fishery community raised a mass movement in 2020 to defend the local economy. However, women’s mobilization in the political sphere of Gwadar is a new phenomenon that has not occurred in the previous phases of the movements of fisherfolks. My research focuses on how women are responding to these changes given the highly patriarchal social structure that limits their mobility and participation in socio-political life. Through semi-structured interviews and ethnographic observation, I explore if and how women are transcending gender barriers to take part in decision-making processes, protest actions, and advocacy campaigns against threats to their community. I examine women’s collective action using the lens of social movement theory to understand how marginalized groups mobilize for rights/justice. My research illuminates the adverse impacts of mainstream development policies and contributes to scholarship on gender and development.
Presenters
Atha TahirLecturer, Social Sciences, Mir Chakar Khan Rind University, Sibi., Baluchistan (en), Pakistan Abdul Qadeer
Lecturer, Sociology, Lasbela University of Agriculture Water and Marine Science, Baluchistan (en), Pakistan Abdul Raheem
Student, M.Phil., Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Punjab, Pakistan
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Technical, Political, and Social Responses
KEYWORDS
Women's Activism, Development-Induced Displacements, Reverse Impacts of Development
