ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF COASTAL WOMEN THROUGH FISHERY-BASED MSMEs: A THEMATIC ANALYSIS IN DEMAK REGENCY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31959/jm.v15i4.4114Abstract
Introduction: Coastal women contribute substantially to household economies through fishery-based micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), yet their economic participation does not automatically translate into empowerment. This study aims to analyse the process of economic empowerment of coastal women through fishery-based MSMEs in Demak Regency using the resources, agency, and achievements framework.
Methods: The study used an exploratory qualitative approach with 23 purposively selected women engaged in fishery-based MSMEs. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analysed using NVivo-assisted thematic analysis, guided by four analytical propositions derived from Kabeer's resources, agency, and achievements framework.
Results: The results show that economic empowerment occurs through the utilisation of resources, including capital, raw materials, equipment, family networks, customers, market access, and institutional support. These resources are converted into agency through women's capacity to manage capital, determine product quality, choose marketing strategies, and adapt their businesses to various constraints. This agency produces achievements such as additional household income, business continuity, loyal customers, and growing aspirations to expand production capacity and market reach. However, limited capital and technology, fluctuating raw material prices, uneven institutional access, and coastal environmental vulnerability still constrain the process. These findings suggest that empowerment depends not on economic participation alone, but on women's ability to turn available resources into meaningful economic decisions and achievements. To strengthen the sustainability of coastal women's MSMEs, they need better access to technology, markets, business assistance, and institutional support.
References
Azkia, M., Rizqiyan, R. N., & Alfian, M. R. (2025). Literature review: The role and contribution of women fishermen in fishing households and the empowerment program. Jurnal Perikanan Terpadu, 5(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.35308/jpt.v5i1.13116
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2019). Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 11(4), 589–597. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2019.1628806
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2022). Thematic analysis: A practical guide. SAGE Publications.
Chambon, M., Miñarro, S., Santiago, ·, Fernandez, A., Porcher, V., Reyes-Garcia, V., … Ziveri, P. (2023). A synthesis of women’s participation in small-scale fisheries management: why women’s voices matter. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 2023 34:1, 34(1), 43–63. https://doi.org/10.1007/S11160-023-09806-2
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (5 ed.). SAGE Publications.
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Dasig, M. (2020). Women’s agency and leadership in fishing communities: Voice, solidarity, and achievement. Asian Fisheries Science, 33(2), 112–124.
FAO. (2023). Mapping women’s small-scale fisheries organizations in Indonesia: Results from assessing current capacities, gaps and opportunities to strengthen women’s organizations in the sector. Rome. https://doi.org/10.4060/cc8089en
Fitranisa, I., Putri, E. A., Raihan, F., Octavian, Z. N., Amaliya, H., & Rahmadini, N. L. (2026). Gender awareness factor in coastal women entrepreneur’s efforts to support family economic resilience. Ganaya: Jurnal Ilmu Sosial Dan Humaniora, 9(2), 213–222. https://doi.org/10.37329/ganaya.v9i2.5412
Harper, S., Adshade, M., Lam, V. W. Y., Pauly, D., & Sumaila, U. R. (2020). Valuing invisible catches: Estimating the global contribution by women to small-scale marine capture fisheries production. PLOS ONE, 15(3), e0228912. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0228912
Kabeer, N. (1999a). Resources, Agency, Achievements: Reflections on the Measurement of Women’s Empowerment. Development and Change, 30(3), 435–464. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-7660.00125
Kabeer, N. (1999b). Resources, agency, achievements: Reflections on the measurement of women’s empowerment. Development and Change, 30(3), 435–464. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-7660.00125
Kabeer, N. (2018). Gender, livelihood capabilities and women’s economic empowerment: Reviewing evidence over the life course.
Kleiber, D., Harris, L. M., & Vincent, A. C. J. (2014). Gender and small-scale fisheries: A case for counting women and beyond. Fish and Fisheries, 16(4), 547–562. https://doi.org/10.1111/faf.12075
Labayo, C. C. (2024). Access, control, and women’s empowerment in Philippine fishing communities. Journal of Rural Studies, 105, 103156.
Mahmud, T., Khan, R., & Ahmad, S. (2025). Gender barriers in fisheries value chains: Institutional, financial, and social constraints on women’s agency. Gender, Place & Culture, 32(1), 45–68.
Nowell, L. S., Norris, J. M., White, D. E., & Moules, N. J. (2017). Thematic analysis: Striving to meet the trustworthiness criteria. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 16(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406917733847
Pedroza-Gutiérrez, C., & Hapke, H. M. (2022). Women’s work in small-scale fisheries: a framework for accounting its value. Gender, Place & Culture, 29(12), 1733–1750. https://doi.org/10.1080/0966369X.2021.1997936
Sarkodie, S. A., Adams, S., Owusu, P. A., Leirvik, T., & Ozturk, I. (2023). Comprehensive green growth indicators across countries and territories. Scientific Data, 10, 422.
Slahanti, M., Noegroho, N., Souisa, J., & Soegihartono, S. (2026). DINAMIKA KEWIRAUSAHAAN PEREMPUAN MUDA DALAM MENGELOLA BISNIS : STUDI KASUS UMKM DI SEMARANG. Jurnal Maneksi (Management Ekonomi Dan Akuntansi), 15(2), 1227–1233. https://doi.org/10.31959/JM.V15I2.3840
Stacey, N., Gibson, E., Loneragan, N. R., Warren, C., Wiryawan, B., Adhuri, D., & Fitriana, R. (2019). Enhancing coastal livelihoods in Indonesia: an evaluation of recent initiatives on gender, women and sustainable livelihoods in small-scale fisheries. Maritime Studies 2019 18:3, 18(3), 359–371. https://doi.org/10.1007/S40152-019-00142-5
Sugiyanto, E., Hartono, D., & Pramudya, B. (2025). Social capital, vulnerability management, and the sustainability of women’s enterprises in Indonesian coastal fisheries. Ocean & Coastal Management, 251, 107089.
Susilowati, I., & Mafruhah, I. (2023). Women’s empowerment to alleviate poverty in coastal zones: A case study of fisherwomen in Pacitan, Indonesia. International Journal of Ethics and Systems, 39(1), 165–179. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOES-12-2021-0237
Wardhani, A. A., Solechan, A., Arwinda, S., Shibghatalloh, A. H., Syafrudin, H. A., & Musliha, C. (2025). Women as pillars of coastal economic resilience: Role transformation, empowerment, and gender support in the Juwana coastal community. Jurnal Ilmu Sosial Dan Humaniora, 14(2), 396–406. https://doi.org/10.23887/jish.v14i2.95632
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Citation Check
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Regas Panji Pratomo 1), Fahmy Akbar Idries 2), Novi Diah Wulandari 3), Lilis Kurniasari 4), Wina Mutiara 5), Arjuna Gabriel Muktaf 6)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Access and Licensing
All articles published in Jurnal Maneksi (Management Ekonomi Dan Akuntansi) are available immediately upon publication without any embargo period. No registration or subscription fees are required to access our content.
To facilitate clarity and ease of reuse, Jurnal Maneksi (Management Ekonomi Dan Akuntansi) adopts Creative Commons licenses. By default, all articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0). This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided that proper attribution is given to the original author(s) and source.
Copyright Policy
Authors publishing in Jurnal Maneksi (Management Ekonomi Dan Akuntansi) retain copyright over their work. By submitting and publishing with Jurnal Maneksi (Management Ekonomi Dan Akuntansi), authors grant the journal the right of first publication under their chosen open-access license. This ensures that authors maintain full control over their intellectual property while enabling broad dissemination and reuse of their work.
Authors are also encouraged to:
- Share their published articles in institutional repositories or personal websites, ensuring proper acknowledgment of initial publication in Jurnal Maneksi (Management Ekonomi Dan Akuntansi).
- Enter into non-exclusive agreements for further distribution, such as including their articles in books or other publications.
