Vijaykiran Vijayan

Independent Researcher, India

Title: Individual To Collective: Women's Capability Expansion and Empowerment Through Women's Enterprises — A Case Study of Fisherwomen in Kerala, India

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Biography

Vijaykiran V completed his M.Phil. in Economics from the University of Kerala, India, and has over 4.6 years of research experience in the social sciences. His areas of expertise include public policy, marine fishery economy, environmental economics, coastal livelihoods, gender in fisheries, labour and migration, and development economics. He has worked as a Senior Research Fellow at the ICAR–Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Cochin, Kerala. Additionally, he served as a Research Associate at the Kerala Institute of Labour and Employment for a short period. He has published around 13 research papers in reputed journals and other academic platforms, and has actively participated in several national and international conferences, where he presented his research work.

Abstract

Despite their critical involvement in the post-harvest fisheries sector, women in the fisheries sector of Kerala remain economically and institutionally marginalized. This paper explores how collective organizing — through women's enterprises — has served as a transformative force in expanding the capabilities and agency of fisherwomen. The study, grounded in Sen's Capability Approach, examines how collective identity and solidarity enable fisherwomen to transform structural and gender barriers into opportunities for enhanced agency, income, mobility, decision-making power, and ultimately, empowerment. Using a mixed-methods approach — encompassing field-level case studies and policy analysis — the paper investigates the experiences of women-led activity enterprises like Society for Assistance to Fisherwomen (SAF). It highlights how these platforms help mitigate structural barriers — including gendered access to credit, technology, and institutional support — while enabling collective action that addresses capability deprivations and fosters sustainable livelihoods.

The paper argues that when individual capabilities fail to develop due to socio-economic, gender, and patriarchal constraints, collective identity and solidarity strengthen collective capabilities and bring meaningful change that women have reason to value. Findings highlight collective action as an instrumental mechanism for empowerment, fostering resilience, social recognition, and improved livelihood outcomes. Evidence from comparable sectors underscores the transformative potential of collective engagement in mitigating gendered limitations. The study also highlights the critical role of formal institutions in nurturing and sustaining such collectives. Despite notable gains, challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, limited financial access, and sustainability concerns persist. Study advocates for targeted policy interventions, including financial inclusion, capacity-building initiatives, and inclusive market linkages to strengthen collective agency and promote gender-equitable development.