Change and Stability: The Role of Women in Norwegian Fish Farming

Fish farming is one of the fastest growing industries in Norway. During the last two decades it has developed from an industry composed of small, locally-based family businesses to a modern, capital intensive, globalised industry dominated by large corporations. The successful history of Norwegian fish farming has been strongly male dominated. Although there have been women in the industry, their contribution has not been a very visible. Moreover, the share of women employees in the industry declined from 18.8 per cent in 1994 to 12.4 per cent in 2005. This article analyzes the position of women in Norwegian fish farming and discusses possible explanations for the increasing male dominance in the industry during this period. Explanations related to changes in the industry, changes in the labour market, and those linked to the gendered image of fish farming as an industry are explored. Implications for practitioners and policy makers of this increasing male dominance are discussed.