Q & A
Interview with Clarisse Canha from Associação para a Igualdade e Direitos das Mulheres Association for Equality and Rights for Women (UMAR-Azores)
By Brian O’ Riordan (briano@scarlet.be), Brussels Office Secretary, ICSF
What is the role of women in fisheries in Azores?
Women are engaged in fishing as crew or owners, in shore-based activities, and as wives/partners of fishermen to carry out several types of activities related to fisheries and fisheries management. Women also work on shore preparing bait, mending nets or in fish processing plants (tuna canning industries).
Of the work women do, what is paid and what is unpaid work??
The majority of women are remunerated for their work, though those who work in a family regime’ are not. There are women who help’ their husbands as much as or even more than a paid crew member, but are not remunerated for their work. When this help’ is analyzed in terms of content, duration, periodicity and time employed, it becomes clear that it is work’. The issue of women’s remuneration is thus marked by gender discrimination, based on which women’s labour has been, and continues to be, undervalued.
