Participation of women in the blue economy and their sustainable economic development

Abstract

This study sought to investigate women’s participation in the blue economy and its effect on their long-term economic development. The study assessed the challenges faced by the few women participating in the blue economy, as well as considered ways to overcome these challenges. Specifically, this research examined possible reasons why women are under-represented in the blue economy despite the seemingly many opportunities in the sector. Data was collected from various blue economy participants drawn from government departments, private sector organisations and institutions in South Africa, using an online web-based survey. Factor analysis with Promax as the rotation method, Principal Axis Factoring as the extraction method as well as Multiple Linear Regression were used to analyse the data. The findings of the study revealed that women in the blue economy potentially have both general and economic prospects, and that women’s contributions to the blue economy’s fisheries sector are undervalued. Similarly, women’s functions in the fisheries sector are overlooked, particularly in the oil and gas, as well as transportation sectors. Changing social, cultural and religious norms could eliminate women’s segregation in the blue economy, thus empowering them to participate in leadership positions. The introduction of an effective policy framework would emphasise knowledge and information sharing about the blue economy industry and its opportunities for women, thereby facilitating their sustainable economic empowerment and development.

Lolu cwaningo kuzanywa ngalo ukuhlola ukubamba iqhaza kwabesifazane kwezomnotho eziphathelene nokulondolozwa kwamanzi kanye nomthelela wazo ekuthuthukiseni umnotho esikhathini eside. Ucwaningo luhlolisise izinselelo abesifazane abambalwa ababhekana nazo kwezomnotho eziphathelene nokulondolozwa kwamanzi, kanye nezindlela ezicatshangwayo zokunqoba lezi zinselelo. Maqondana nalokhu, lolu cwaningo luhlolisise izizathu ezingaba khona zokuthi kungani abesifazane bengamelelekile ngokwanele kwezomnotho eziphathelene nokulondolozwa kwamanzi naphezu kwamathuba amaningi abonakalayo kulo mkhakha. Kwaqoqwa imininingo kubabambiqhaza abahlukahlukene kwezomnotho eziphathelene nokulondolozwa kwamanzi abathathwa eminyangweni kahulumeni, ezinhlanganweni zemikhakha ezimele nasezikhungweni zaseNingizimu Afrika, kusetshenziswa inhlolovo eyenziwa nge-intanethi. Kwasetshenziswa indlela yokucubungula ngokuqhathanisa nokuqondanisa imininingo (i-Promax Factor Analysis), indlela yokuhlukanisa obekuqondene kubekwe ngendlela ehlukile (i-Principal Axis Factoring) njengendlela yokuhlukanisa kanye nendlela yokubheka ubudlelwano phakathi kwemininingo (i-Multiple Linear Regression) ukuhlaziya imininingo. Okutholakale ocwaningweni kwembula ukuthi abesifazane kwezomnotho eziphathelene nokulondolozwa kwamanzi kungenzeka babe namathuba kwezomnotho, nokuthi igalelo labesifazane emkhakheni wezokudoba kwezomnotho eziphathelene nokulondolozwa kwamanzi lithathwa njengelingabalulekile. Ngokufanayo, imisebenzi yabesifazane emkhakheni wokudoba ayinakwa, ikakhulukazi emkhakheni kawoyela negesi, kanye nasemikhakheni yezokuthutha. Ukushintsha kwezinkambiso zomphakathi, amasiko nezenkolo kungaqeda ukubandlululwa kwabesifazane kwezomnotho eziphathelene nokulondolozwa kwamanzi, ngaleyo ndlela kubanike amandla okubamba iqhaza ezikhundleni zobuholi. Ukwethulwa kohlaka lwezinqubomgomo olusebenzayo kuzogcizelela ulwazi nokwabelana ngemininingwane mayelana nomkhakha wezomnotho eziphathelene nokulondolozwa kwamanzi namathuba azo kwabesifazane, ngaleyo ndlela kusize ekunikeni amandla nasekuthuthukisweni kwabo kwezomnotho okusimeme.

Olu phando luphande ukuthatha inxaxheba kwabasetyhini kuqoqosho lweemveliso zaselwandle olwaziwa ngokuba yi-blue economy kunye nefuthe elithe labakho kuphuhliso lwabo loqoqosho lwexesha elide. Uphando luhlolisise imingeni iqaqobana labasetyhini elingabathathinxaxheba elijongene nayo kuqoqosho lweemveliso zaselwandle, kwakunye neendlela eziqwalaselweyo zokoyisa le mingeni. Ngokukodwa, olu phando luphonononge izizathu ezinokubakho zokuba kutheni abasetyhini bemelwe ngokungephi kuqoqosho lweemveliso zaselwandle, nangona amathuba ebonakala emaninzi kweli candelo. Idatha iqokelelwe kubathathinxaxheba abahlukahlukileyo boqoqosho lweemveliso zaselwandle abaqokelelwe kumasebe karhulumente, amaqumrhu namaziko ecandelo labucala eMzantsi Afrika, kusetyenziswa uphando olusekelwe kwiwebhu yeintanethi. Ukuhlalutya idatha, kusetyenziswe indlela esetyenziselwa ukuhlalutya idatha enkulu eyaziwa ngokuba yi-Factor analysis with Promax, indlela yokutsala idatha eyaziwa ngokuba yi-Principal Axis Factoring, kwakunye nendlela yeenkcukachamanani eyaziwa ngokuba yi-Multiple Linear Regression. Iziphumo zophando zibonise ukuba abasetyhini abakuqoqosho lweemveliso zaselwandle banokuba nawo amathuba jikelele kunye nawezoqoqosho, kwaye igalelo labasetyhini kwicandelo lokuloba kuqoqosho lweemveliso zaselwandle lijongelwa phantsi. Ngokufanayo, imisebenzi yabasetyhini kwicandelo lokuloba ayihoywa, ingakumbi kumacandelo eoyile negesi, nawezothutho. Ukutshintsha imimiselo yezentlalo, yezenkcubeko kunye nezenkolo kunokuphelisa ucalulo lwabasetyhini kuqoqosho lweemveliso zaselwandle, ngaloo ndlela kuya kubaxhobisa ukuba bakwazi ukuthatha inxaxheba kwizikhundla zokukhokela. Ukuveliswa kwesikhokhelo somgaqonkqubo esisebenzayo kuya kugxininisa ulwazi nokwabelana ngalo kushishino loqoqosho lweemveliso zaselwandle kunye namathuba olu shishino kwabasetyhini. Ngaloo ndlela kuza kube kuququzelelwa ukuxhotyiswa nophuhliso oluzinzileyo lwabasetyhini kwezoqoqosho.