1. Talking About the Sea and Women: An Introduction

Discussing the sea and women is like revealing the hidden harmony that flows between the waves, where coastal women become a solid support for the resilience of their communities. In the North Coast of Java Island, especially in Muarareja, Tegal City, the role of fish vendors commonly known as “Bakul”—identical to female fish vendors—is a symbol of local economic strength that is often overlooked. As an integral part of the coastal economic ecosystem, fish vendors contribute to their families’ economic sustainability and play a strategic role in building and maintaining complex economic networks at the local level (Adam et al., 2024; Harper et al., 2013). Their role illustrates the resilience and adaptation of coastal women in facing socio-economic challenges, making them a key element in supporting the stability of coastal communities there.

It started from the auction system at the Fish Auction Place (TPI), which was initially the mainstay of the fish vendors to obtain fish from fishermen. However, this condition made them vulnerable to uncertain market price fluctuations. In the face of this instability, many fish vendors transformed into economic patrons by providing capital loans to small fishermen or crew members (ABK) to purchase boats. This transformation gave them greater control over the fish supply while creating a more stable income with this cooperation system. However, this change did not come without consequences. More and more fishermen sold directly to fish vendors as capital providers, causing a decline in activity at the Muarareja TPI until it was finally abandoned. This condition also gave rise to polemics regarding the welfare of small fishermen who were increasingly dependent on the patron-client system. On the other hand, this transformation strengthened the economic resilience of women traders, who are now important players in the family economy and have a stronger position in coastal communities’ social and economic structure.

This phenomenon illustrates how coastal women, through innovation and adaptation, can overcome complex economic challenges. As stated by Bari et al. (2024), the role of women in the coastal economy reflects their strength of adaptation and resilience in the face of global economic uncertainty. In Muarareja, this strength symbolizes local economic sustainability and reflects the great potential for empowering coastal women who can inspire other areas with similar patterns. In this context, women are not only economic agents but also agents of social change who can overcome structural challenges through innovation and adaptation. The transformation of the role of women fish vendors or Bakul from mere traders to patrons has given them greater control over the supply chain and a more stable income. It creates new economic opportunities for women and strengthens the social networks of more inclusive and resilient communities. As patrons, Bakul can build mutually beneficial relationships with small-scale fishermen, strengthening the community’s economic competitiveness and reducing dependence on an unstable market system.

The social relevance of this study is emphasized through its linkage to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations (Goyal and Dharwal, 2023), one of which is SDG 1: No Poverty. In addition, the changing role of fish vendors or Bakul also opens up opportunities for developing more gender-oriented policies, focusing on sustainable economic empowerment and strengthening the capacity of women as key actors in community development, linked with SDG 5: Gender Equality. As stated by U. N. Women (2023), policies that support the role of women in the local economy not only have an impact on economic growth but also on achieving gender equality which is at the heart of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). By systematically and contextually explaining the role of fish vendors in improving women’s economic resilience in coastal communities, this study contributes to efforts to achieve gender equality and poverty alleviation. Previous studies conducted by Gustavsson (2024), who highlighted the importance of women’s roles in the local economy, and Susilowati and Mafruhah (2023), who observed the relationship between women’s empowerment and increased economic resilience, provide a strong basis for the urgency of this study. This study highlights that understanding women’s dynamics in local economies, particularly through patron-client relationships, is important in uncovering ways to strengthen women’s positions in often gender-biased social structures.

Furthermore, this study aims to reveal the dynamics of women’s roles in the often marginalized coastal social and economic structures so that they can inspire women’s empowerment efforts in other coastal areas. In addition, this study has great potential to provide positive social impacts, especially in reducing gender inequality in the male-dominated fisheries economic sector. By analyzing the strategies of female vendors who own depots in Muarareja in dealing with economic instability, this study is expected to provide practical insights into how negative impacts, such as economic dependence on external parties and exploitation in patron-client relations, can be reduced. This approach not only broadens theoretical understanding but also provides relevant practical solutions for coastal women’s empowerment policies and programs, taking into account local economic challenges and opportunities (Matovu et al., 2024). The impact of this study is expected to address the need to increase women’s economic resilience through initiatives that support independence and reduce exploitation.

This research also builds on previous works published by the author, including a study on urban fishing communities in Muarareja and patron-client relations that has been published (Amanatin et al., 2024). Based on further research on the thesis data that has been collected, this study can deepen our understanding of the importance of women's roles in local economic structures. As part of a broader thesis research project, this study strengthens the argument about women’s contributions to the economic resilience of coastal communities. It enriches the broader scientific discourse on the issue.

This research has profound social relevance by addressing the urgent need for policies that support women’s empowerment and the economic empowerment of coastal communities. It presents a clear and universal value: recognizing women’s central role in economic resilience as the foundation for inclusive and resilient societies. By linking these findings to broader global initiatives such as the SDGs, this research makes a fundamental contribution to collective efforts to create a more sustainable and equitable future for all and to foster broader dialogue on the role of women in local economic development.

2. Theory and Methods

This study applies a qualitative approach to deeply analyze the dynamics of the role of female fish vendors in the coastal economy of Muarareja. This approach is relevant to explore the complexity of socio-economic relations involving women as strategic actors in the local economic structure. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with fish vendors, fishermen, and other stakeholders and supported by participant observation at fish depots, docks, and key economic interaction locations. In addition, documentation analysis of local policies, fish vendors’ reports, and coastal community statistical data provided historical and structural contexts to enrich the analysis.

Giddens’ (2014) structuration theory framework is the foundation for understanding power relations and social changes. The dimension of dominance is seen from the ability of fish vendors to control access to capital and fish supplies, allowing them to influence local economic stability. The dimension of significance reflects the shift in social meaning towards the role of women, from merely complementing the family economy to being the main driver in the local economic network. Meanwhile, the dimension of legitimacy is seen from the social recognition obtained through business innovation and adaptive strategies, strengthening their position in coastal communities. This theory provides insight into how structure and agency interact in shaping dynamic economic patterns.

Geertz’s (1976) concept of kanca wingking or ‘friend behind’ complements the analysis by revealing the cultural transformation experienced by coastal women. As a representation of traditional Javanese values, this concept reflects the role of women as domestic supporters in the family. However, in the context of fish vendors, women have gone beyond these traditional boundaries, transforming into patrons who control the local economy. This change shows women’s ability to adapt to a patron-client system and strengthens the economic resilience of families and communities. By integrating interviews, observations, and documentation, this study provides a holistic picture of women’s strategic role in building economic and social stability in the coastal area.

3. Results and Implications

This study shows a fundamental social change in Muarareja, where the shift in the function and role of the family is visible, especially in the role of women. Women, who were previously more focused on domestic activities, are now increasingly involved in the public sector, especially as fish vendors or Bakul. Most of the women vendors in the coastal areas of Java Island, including in Muarareja, come from fishermen’s wives who initially only tried to help the family economy by managing a small fish depot. Over time, their businesses grew rapidly, and the bigger the depot they managed, the more advanced their businesses became. Interestingly, in many cases, husbands who previously worked as fishermen voluntarily stopped going to sea and focused on supporting their wives in managing the depot and household. This phenomenon reflects a shift in gender dynamics in fishing households, where women are beginning to dominate the role of managing the family economy. It also reflects a form of gender partnership, where men and women are more likely to work together equally in making decisions and dividing tasks in the household and family economy (Guiso and Zaccaria, 2023). This gender partnership model shows a shift from a traditional patriarchal structure to a more balanced and egalitarian structure, where women’s roles are valued and strengthened in managing the family economy.

Furthermore, the findings of this study confirm that women, although often viewed as a marginalized group in the social structure, have a crucial role in maintaining the economic stability of their communities. The transformation of female fish vendors’ role in Muarareja reflects economic and profound social and cultural changes (Amanatin et al., 2024). The active involvement of women in the fisheries sector makes an important contribution to economic income and strengthens the social network that connects various economic actors in the community. By conducting an in-depth analysis of the role of fish vendors, this study shows that women have an extraordinary ability to adapt and innovate when faced with complex and diverse economic challenges. Women previously placed in kanca wingking—a traditional position as a behind-the-scenes supporter—have now stepped forward to become the main pillar in the local economic structure. The concept of kanca wingking in Javanese society often refers to the role of more supportive women (Geertz, 1976) behind their husbands or families. However, along with the economic development in Muarareja, women traders have shifted from supporting roles to key actors driving the economy through depot businesses and fish distribution networks, as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2. It confirms that the existence and contribution of women cannot be underestimated but must be recognized as a key factor in maintaining the economic resilience of the community and building solidarity among community members.

The analysis depicted in both figures reflects significant changes in patron-client relations in Muarareja, which can be explained through the lens of Giddens’ (2014) structuration theory. Before the closure of the Fish Auction Place (TPI), patron-client relations in coastal communities tended to be hierarchical, with the fishermen bosses as patrons who controlled access to fish supplies and capital, while the fish vendors, who were mostly women, acted as clients who depended on the patron's decisions in determining the price and distribution of fish. It created an economic dependency vulnerable to market fluctuations and unstable prices, as reflected in Figure 1.

However, after the closure of the TPI, this patron-client relationship underwent a significant transformation, as reflected in Figure 2. Women fish vendors, who previously played the role of clients in the patron-client system, have now transformed into more empowered patrons with greater control over fish supplies and more stable incomes. They have begun to provide capital loans to small-scale fishermen or crew members (ABK) to purchase boats, allowing them to control the supply chain and mitigate fish price uncertainty. Within Giddens’ (2014) theoretical framework, this illustrates a new process of domination (Whittington, 2010) in which women fish vendors control economic resources previously controlled by the fishermen’s bosses. This transformation not only changes the local economic structure but also gives new meaning to the role of women in coastal communities, from a marginal position to a dominant actor who strengthens the community’s economic resilience.

This study reveals that recognizing women’s central role is a pillar of economic resilience in coastal communities. As leaders in managing depot businesses, women fish vendors or Bakul support the family economy and develop stable business networks, connecting them to wider markets and even large companies through groups of women fish vendors called Mino Rizky and Mino Rini. Women, primarily as fish vendors, support household income and play an important role in ensuring economic stability and community independence. With their tenacity in managing finances, building market networks, and developing adaptive business strategies, these women fish vendors can contribute to the foundation of an inclusive and resilient society that has been proven able to market various marine catches to companies and modern-traditional markets in the surrounding area of Java Island. The concept of kanca wingking, which depicts women as supporters from behind, is now shifting—they are both supporters and leaders in a strong local economic structure under their control.

This finding, therefore, is in line with previous findings showing that developing women’s empowerment strategies in the face of economic instability provides practical insights into reducing adverse impacts, such as economic dependence on external parties and exploitation (Dasig, 2020; Silva et al., 2022). In this context, the role of the resilience of women fish vendors, who generally come from fishermen’s wives, is very significant. When they succeed in becoming depot owners, this change affects them and has positive consequences for other family members. Neighbors and relatives, including husbands and their children, often switch jobs to help manage the depot, creating new jobs and strengthening the family economy. Thus, the findings also align with the research results (Gustavsson, 2024; Susilowati and Mafruhah, 2023). This process empowers women individually and builds economic resilience at the family and community levels.

Relevant practical solutions for women’s empowerment policies and programs in coastal areas are needed, and the existing economic challenges and opportunities must be considered. First, it is important to create appropriate skills training programs, especially in business management and marketing, that will equip local women with the knowledge and skills needed to manage their businesses effectively (Ajiva et al., 2024). Second, better access to capital should be ensured by developing women-friendly approaches to start and grow their businesses (Özyol, 2020). In addition, strengthening social and community networks through collaboration between fish vendors will increase their bargaining power in the market and encourage the creation of cooperation that can facilitate the purchase of raw materials at cheaper prices. Finally, there is a need for support from the government and non-governmental organizations in the form of policies that support gender balance in the fisheries sector, which will create a more equitable and inclusive environment for women in coastal areas.

Although this study provides in-depth insights into the economic dynamics in Muarareja, especially in observing the role of women fish vendors, which has undergone a significant transformation, the qualitative approach used has several limitations that need to be noted, especially related to the limitations in generalizing the findings. This study focuses on a specific local context in the coastal area of Java Island, which means that the results obtained may not be fully generalizable to other coastal areas outside Java Island, which have very different socio-economic characteristics. Our findings reveal a shift in roles in the patron-client structure, where women fish vendors who now control fish distribution tend to limit the freedom of fishermen to determine prices. In this condition, fishermen are forced to accept the prices set by the fish vendors, creating deep tensions in the patron-client relationship and increasing their dependence on the existing system. These tensions reflect the complexities that arise in the evolving economic structure and indicate the need for a more holistic understanding of economic power and control in coastal communities. Therefore, to obtain a more complete and comprehensive picture, it is important to conduct further analysis that takes into account the dimensions of power, dependency, and socio-economic relations that shape the interactions between fish vendors, fishermen, and other economic actors.

4. Conclusions

In conclusion, women’s economic empowerment, especially women’s fish vendors in coastal communities, is very important in strengthening local economic resilience. By empowering women to manage depot businesses independently, we improve their individual welfare and create broader economic stability for coastal communities. Therefore, efforts to increase women’s access to resources, business training, and marketing networks are strategic steps that can accelerate the achievement of women’s economic independence in coastal communities.

This study provides a clear picture of the importance of policies that support gender inclusion in the local economic sector. It aligns with global goals such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which emphasize the importance of women’s empowerment in creating a more sustainable and equitable society. Therefore, policy support that strengthens the role of women fish vendors in social and economic structures is needed, including developing programs encouraging collaboration between fish vendors and other stakeholders. This collaboration is expected to expand opportunities for women to access broader markets, increase incomes, and strengthen the economic resilience of coastal communities.

Empowering women in the local economy improves individual well-being and strengthens more inclusive and resilient social structures. Thus, it is important for all parties, including policymakers, local communities, and social development practitioners, to continue promoting initiatives that expand women’s access to resources and equal opportunities in the local economy.

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