Gender analysis of livelihood strategies among ethnic households in
Northern Laos: From subsistence agriculture to rubber plantations
Abstract
The study examined livelihood changes in eight villages in Luang Namtha
province of northern Lao PDR following the expansion in rubber
plantations and analyzed its impact on gender roles and relations. The
differential impact of rubber plantation was analyzed on the basis of
location (distance from border), infrastructure (distance from roads),
land ownership (concession, small farmhold) and timeline for entry into
rubber plantations. Early adopters located near the border were able to
gain maximum benefit from rubber plantations and these benefits were
instrumental in transforming gender roles and relations in favor of
women. The study showed used the concept of Long’s ‘social interface’ to
argue the diversity in coping strategies employed by women and men in
different locations and contexts, and questioned the sustainability of
these livelihood changes.