Identity, subjectivity and natural resource use: How ethnicity, gender and class intersect to influence mangrove oyster harvesting in The Gambia

摘要: Abstract Environmental policies have paid increasing attention to the socio-cultural dimensions of human–environment interactions, in an effort address failures previous ‘top-down’ practices which imposed external rules and regulations ignored local beliefs customs. As a result, relationship between identity resource use is area growing interest both policy academic circles. However, most research has treated forms social difference such as gender, ethnicity class separate that produce distinct types inequalities patterns use. In doing so, fails embrace key insights from theories intersectionality misses role space place shaping individual group subjectivities. this paper we investigate how multiple influence practice among women oyster harvesters The Gambia. We find harvesting shaped by confluence aversion stigmatised waged labour; gendered expectations providing for one’s family; historically informed spatially bounded sense ethnicity. Drawing on concept contact zones, show new interactions intra-actions previously isolated groups broadened conceptions subjectivities overlay rather than replace old clan alliances, leading tensions. argue zones emerging can thus be at once uniting divisive, with important implications natural management.