Lifestyle of Coastal Women: An Ethnographic Study of Small-Scale Fishing Communities in South Sibolga District, Sibolga City, North Sumatra Province

DOI

10.2991/978-2-38476-499-0_9How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Ethnographic Approach; Coastal Women; Small-Scale Fishers

Abstract

The South Sibolga District, which is part of Sibolga City in Indonesia, is known as a center for the rapidly developing fishing industry. Although men are more predominantly involved in fishing activities, women play a crucial role in the socio-economic structure of small-scale fishing households. Their involvement extends beyond conventional household tasks to include important economic functions that support family income and the overall sustainability of coastal communities. This study examines the roles and lifestyles of coastal women in the fishing communities of South Sibolga. Using a qualitative ethnographic approach, data were collected through structured and in-depth interviews, as well as participant observation. The findings indicate that, although women do not directly participate in offshore fishing, they are actively involved in various stages of the fishing process. This includes post-harvest activities such as boiling, drying, salting, and smoking fish, as well as preparing fishing gear, repairing nets, sorting catches, and marketing fish at local markets facilitated by the government. Women’s contributions are also influenced by socio-economic and environmental factors that shape their daily lives. This research emphasizes the importance of women’s often overlooked roles in sustaining the livelihoods of small-scale fishing households, as well as the need for a gender-based approach in coastal development and policy planning. By recognizing women’s contributions, policymakers can more effectively address the challenges faced by these communities and promote more sustainable development practices.

Copyright

© 2025 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Masitah Hidayah Tanjung
AU  - Ichwan Azhari
AU  - Hidayat Hidayat
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/12/12
TI  - Lifestyle of Coastal Women: An Ethnographic Study of Small-Scale Fishing Communities in South Sibolga District, Sibolga City, North Sumatra Province
BT  - Proceedings of the International Conference on Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies (ICSSIS 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 99
EP  - 106
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-499-0_9
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-499-0_9
ID  - HidayahTanjung2025
ER  -