Gender and Livelihoods: A Case Study of the Mah Meri and the Oil Palm Plantations of Carey Island
Gender and Livelihoods: A Case Study of the Mah Meri and the Oil Palm Plantations of Carey Island
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性别与生计：马梅里 (Mah Meri) 和凯里岛油棕种植园的案例研究
DOI：
10.1080/12259276.2011.11666108
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发表时间：
2011
期刊：
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
W. Lai
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
W. Lai
摘要 本研究旨在了解马来西亚半岛凯里岛 Bumbun 村的 Mah Meri 土著群体的生计随时间的变化。实地调查于2007年10月中旬至12月中旬进行，采用定量和定性方法。我的研究表明，转型时期村民的关键生计策略如何从依赖森林资源转变为在附近的大型油棕园打工。然后他们被印度尼西亚移民工人取代；目前仅限于自己的小规模油棕产业。这种向油棕种植的转变具有高度的性别歧视。它强调在收获过程中执行关键任务时的体力，使妇女贡献的价值边缘化，并极大地支持男性的参与。这也导致了土地继承方式的改变，越来越有利于儿子而不是女儿。与此同时，妇女在小规模农场的管理中失去了决策权，逐渐被剥夺了权力。而且，村民之间的关系也发生了变化，这些因素进一步强化了当地经济社会的性别分工。
Abstract This study seeks to understand livelihood changes over time among an indigenous group called the Mah Meri of Bumbun village in Carey Island in Peninsular Malaysia. Fieldwork was conducted from mid-October to mid-December 2007, employing both quantitative and qualitative methods. My research shows how the critical livelihood strategies of villagers during transition periods shifted from their being dependent on forest resources to work as wage laborers in the nearby large-scale oil palm holdings. Then they were displaced by Indonesian migrant workers; and, presently are confined to their own small-scale oil palm holdings. This shift to oil palm cultivation has been highly gender discriminatory. Its emphasis on physical strength in performing crucial tasks in the harvesting process marginalizes the value of women's contribution and greatly favors men's participation. This has also led to the changing of land inheritance practices, which increasingly favor sons over daughters. At the same time, women have been gradually disempowered as they have lost their roles in decision-making in the management of small-scale farms. Moreover, there have been changes in the relationships among the villagers and all these factors have further strengthened the gender division of labor in the local economy and society.